By Bloomington Thunder Sports Information
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – Following a shootout game on an Olympic ice rink, the Bloomington Thunder were bested by the Green Bay Gamblers 2-0 on Saturday night. Over 5,700 fans came to the Resch Center to support the Gamblers at their Military Appreciation night where goaltender Adam Huska (New York Rangers) made 24 saves in his firs career USHL shutout. Bloomington (7-6-3) falls into a three way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with Green Bay (8-5-1) and Cedar Rapids (8-5-1). The Thunder also suffered their first regulation loss since Oct. 17, seeing their seven game point streak come to an end.
Despite an evenly played first period, it was the Gamblers who struck first on a redirected puck. Conor Murphy (University of Michigan) tipped the shot into the net to break the scoreless tie. The forward has netted eight points since joining the Gamblers after a two-goal night. The Ancaster, ON native tipped a shot from Grant Frederic (Miami University) who picked up his fourth assist of the season.
The Thunder had their chance on a 5-on-3 power play, but were held off the board by the Gamblers. They continued to turned chances toward the net, but came up empty over two periods. Logan Halladay kept the team in the game, stopping 18 of 20 through the second. Sean Harrison (Union College) was denied on the lone breakaway in the period for the Thunder as goaltender Adam Huska (New York Rangers) stopped 13 shots through two periods.
Murphy’s second of the night came on a rebound into the slot in the second. With just under five minutes left in the period, Ryan Blankemier (Dartmouth College) took a shot that bounced to the high slot. The future Wolverine put it upstairs for his sixth goal of the season.
Van Barr (Western Michigan University) had one of the best opportunities for the Thunder in the third period as his shot rang off the post behind Huska. Despite outshooting the Gamblers 11-2 in the final period, Huska would escape with the win and improve to 6-3-0.
Halladay kept the team in the game making 19 stops in total, including some big saves, but suffers the loss for the Thunder. The Thunder finished the night 0-5 on the power play and killed off all three chances for the Gamblers on the penalty kill. They also outshot the Gamblers 24-21 on the night.
