The Twin City Thunder had one of the hottest teams in the USPHL’s National Collegiate Development Conference on the ropes Thursday.

However, two goals by the Islanders Hockey Club in the final 89 seconds of the game forced overtime. Then the Islanders, the first-place team in the New England division, defeated the Thunder 4-3 at the Skate 3 Arena in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.

“I feel bad for these kids because they played hard,” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said.

Max Lundgren scored two goals for Islanders HC, including the game-winner.

The Thunder (2-4-1, 5 points) built a two-goal lead in the third period when Cole Laden scored his first goal of the season, with linemate James Tatro recording the assist, with 6:59 left in the third.

“He had a nice assist on Cullen McCormerick’s goal and he scored a goal to make it 3-1,” Hodge said of Laden. “We just picked him up in a trade (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights) right before the Jersey showcase. He has come in and played well for us. He’s a guy we are going to lean on as an older guy. He has been playing better every game.”

Lundgren scored a power-play tally with 89 seconds remaining to get the Islanders HC (7-0-2, 14 points) within a goal. A minute later, Tikhon Ashikhmin evened the game when his shot beat Twin City goalie Ludwig Svensson (32 saves).

“You lose a two-goal game, they got a power play with two and half minutes left, 6-on-4, they score on it,” Hodge said. “Their player cross-checks one of our guys from behind and they score again. What are you going to do?”

Midway through overtime, Lundgren scored his second goal on the power play for the game-winning tally. It is his eighth goal of the season.

“It was a good competitive game, and they have a good power play that moves the puck well,” Hodge said. “They capitalized on their opportunities late.”

Tatro helped the Thunder to a 1-0 advantage in the first period with his fourth tally of the season, beating Islanders goalie Michael Salvatore (24 saves). Andrew Toomey and Roman Wainwright had the helpers on the power-play goal.

“It was a nice feed from Toomey, and the wrist shot beat the goalie,” Hodge said of Tatro’s goal. “He has been red-hot to start the season.”

The Thunder were 2-for-6 on the man advantage, and the Islanders HC were 2-for-4.

Assisted by Laden and Tatro, defenseman Cullen McCormick gave the Thunder a 2-0 advantage in the second stanza.

The Islanders got on the board in the second period when Daniel Woodford found the back of the net in the second period.

The Thunder play their home opener Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Norway Savings Bank Arena, a rematch with the Islanders HC.

THUNDER ADD ROENICK

The Thunder added forward Cole Roenick to the roster. Roenick is the nephew of former NHLer Jeremy Roenick and the son of former University Maine men’s hockey player Trevor Roenick.

The Exeter, New Hampshire native started the season with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings of the North American Hockey League. New Hampshire’s coach is Thunder co-owner and associate head coach Cam Robichaud.

Hodge said Cole should transition well with the Thunder after starting the season being coached by Robichaud.

“A lot of the systems will be similar and the comfort level will be there off the bat,” Hodge said. “He played well today; he’s a big kid, and has good skill. He’s (a 2005 birth year) and excited about where his season takes him.”

Cole Roenick, 18, had one assist in six games with the Mountain Kings. He spent last season with The Winchendon School in Winchendon, Massachusetts, where he had eight goals and 11 assists in 31 games.