By Brian Tosti
BLOOMINGTON – It was another great night for Logan Lambdin (Michigan State University) who took home the game-winning goal for the Bloomington Thunder in a 3-2 overtime game with the Green Bay Gamblers. The recent commit to Michigan State University took a shot from Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) during a Thunder power play and hammered on a rebound to put the puck in the net with only 41 seconds left in the extra period.
Lambdin’s 18th of the year won the game for the Thunder (23-14-3-1) who grab a much needed point in the tight Eastern Conference playoff standings. Green Bay (24-12-4-2) falls to third place in the East due to the loss, as Dubuque (27-13-1-0) won their game 6-2 and took over sole ownership of second.
To get to overtime the Thunder would need to battle back from a 2-1 deficit. With less than four minutes left in the game, the top goal scoring defenseman took the puck coast to coast and put it in the net. Davies tied the game at two when he tucked the puck under the pad of Adam Huska (New York Rangers).
The back and forth defensive game began when Sam Saliba (Michigan State University) broke the scoring open in the first. The pass came across the crease and the Lake Forrest, IL native was there to tap it in on a redirected shot during the Gamblers’ first power play of the game. They ended the night 1-for-6 and Saliba added his 21st of the season and United States Hockey League best, 13th power play goal mark to make it 1-0 Green Bay.
Alec Mehr began the Thunder’s trend of late goals in the game when he tied it nine minutes later and under two minutes before the first intermission. The Irvine, CA native has six goals on the season after a bouncing puck landed on his stick in front of the net. His shot found the back of the net under the cross bar as the Thunder took 12 shots in the opening period. They would end the night with 34 on net, versus the Gamblers’ 22.
Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) took home his 16th win of the season making 20 saves in the game, tying Huska for third best in the USHL. Huska suffered just his second overtime loss of the season despite making 31 saves for Green Bay.
The Thunder took the advantage in the season series 3-2-0-0 with the win. The two teams will meet again in Green Bay one week from Saturday night’s showdown. The Thunder are 8-3-0-0 all-time against the Gamblers with the win.
Following the game the Thunder raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association with their second annual Guns & Hoses jersey auction. The jerseys went for over $3,500 and a portion of the net proceeds will go back to the MDA.
The Thunder are back against the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Monday afternoon to finish their season series. The 3 p.m. Presidents Day game will wrap up a stretch of three games in four days for Bloomington.
