By Brian Tosti
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Bloomington Thunder finished a weekend sweep of the Youngstown Phantoms in a big way. The Thunder scored an organizational high of 10 goals over the Phantoms to take a 10-1 win over their Eastern Conference rival. The Thunder’s win also tied a season high with the Green Bay Gamblers. Bloomington (27-17-3-1) are separated themselves from the Phantoms (22-15-4-5) this weekend with six points in a three in three.
The second period was where the Thunder took control of the game. At the halfway point of the period Blake Gober (Penn State University) scored his ninth goal of the season on a three on two as Patrick Curry sent a pass across the ice to Gober for the back door slam.
Following that play, Youngstown was given a bench minor followed by a five minute major penalty to Kris Myllari (Penn State University) for elbowing who was ejected from the game. The Thunder proceeded to add four goals on that one power play. Curry was rewarded for his pass just over two minutes after Gober’s goal. Then Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University) scored his first of the night 16 minutes into the period. Slaker finished the night with the number one star and a four-point night (2g, 2a). Jake Durflinger also turned in a four-point game (1g, 3a) as he scored under two minutes later. Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) netted his 19th of the season to make it 6-1 under a minute later.
Bloomington was 6-for-8 on the power play and also recorded two shorthanded goals in the game. The team was 4-for-5 on the penalty kill as well as the Thunder special team’s dominated for the second straight night.
The period ended in a shorthanded goal for Logan Lambdin (Michigan State University) who netted his 21st on a pass from Durflinger. The shorthanded goal was also an empty net goal as the Phantoms tried to come back from a five-goal deficit. The Thunder skated to the break with the largest lead in team history at 7-1.
The Phantoms struck for the first goal of the game that ended up being obsolete after the first period. Jason Cotton netted the lone tally for the Phantoms on the power play. Bloomington tied the game with one second left on the clock in the first. Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University) came off the bench with a big shot that was redirected by Alec Mehr to begin the record setting night. Mehr’s eighth of the year made it a 1-1 tie at the first break.
Finishing the night were Slaker, Curry, and Myles Cunningham (Brown University) who scored the final goal of the game shorthanded and the first of his United States Hockey League career.
The Thunder had six different players with multi point games and 11 different players taking home at least one point. Earning his 20th win of the season was goaltender Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) who made 19 saves for the Thunder in his third straight win this weekend. Lavigne made 67 saves on the weekend, allowing just two goals and scooping a third shutout on the year.
Splitting the night for the Phantoms were goaltenders Colin DeAugustine and Ryan Bednard (Bowling Green State University, Florida Panthers) who combined for 27 saves on the Thunder’s 37 shots. DeAugustine ended the night with the loss with Bednard entering the game late in the second in relief.
The two teams will meet again from the U.S. Cellular Coliseum on March 10th and 11th to finish their eight game season series.
The Thunder return home to take on the National Team Development Program Under-18 team at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum on Friday night. It will be the first meeting of the season for the 18s and the Thunder who begin a weekend series in Bloomington. The Thunder will also be celebrating their second annual Chicago Blackhawks night when the puck drops at 7 p.m.
NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, March 4th – 7 p.m. – Chicago Blackhawks night is back at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum to bring a slice of the reigning Stanley Cup Championship organization to Central Illinois. 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Jamal Mayers will be at the game signing autographs and dropping the ceremonial puck after soloist Jim Cornelison performs the Star Spangled Banner. The Blackhawks Bud Light Ice Crew will also be at the game to sign autographs and meet fans in the stands. Get to the game early for $1 drafts and sodas all the way until puck drop. Tickets start at $10 with $5 youth tickets when you call ahead. In order to receive these discounts you MUST call ahead. To reach the Thunder office, call (309) 434-2980.
