Early deficit sinks Thunder

  (WJBC file hoto)
(WJBC file photo)

By WJBC Staff

BLOOMINGTON — Muskegon scored three times in the opening period and added single tallies in the second and third periods on the way to a 5-0 win over the Thunder on Friday night at the Coliseum.

The Lumberjacks (5-3-0-0, 10 pts) opened the scoring one minute, 14 seconds into the first period as Collin Adams netted his team-leading fifth goal of the year on a rush into the offensive zone to give Muskegon a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Two more goals in the next 6:42 made it a quick 3-0 lead for Muskegon. Just 3:07 after the opening goal, Casey Gilling jammed home a loose puck from just outside the crease to make it 2-0. Will Smith then beat Thunder goaltender Logan Halladay (Merrimack College) from the slot at the 7:56 mark to give Muskegon a 3-0 edge.

Gabe Mollot-Hill (Providence College) entered the game in goal for the Thunder (1-4-2-0, 4 pts) after the third Muskegon goal and kept the Lumberjacks’ offense at bay for the remainder of the first period. Mollot-Hill finished the night with 21 saves on 23 shots in his second-straight appearance in goal.

After the opening period, the Thunder outshot Muskegon by eight in the final two periods of play, putting 23 shots on goal. But Bloomington couldn’t solve Muskegon’s Keith Petruzzelli, as he stopped all 32 shots he faced to pick up the win.

Bloomington returns to the ice on Saturday night to finish off the home weekend, hosting the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at 7 p.m. at the Coliseum.

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