By Brian Tosti/ Bloomington Thunder
YOUNGSTOWN- With the game tied in the third period, the Youngstown Phantoms overlooked Jake Durflinger whose center ice turnover gave the Bloomington Thunder a 2-1 win. The Friday night was the second game of the weekend for Bloomington (26-17-3-1) as they top the Phantoms (22-15-4-5) to hold onto the fourth place spot in the Eastern Conference.
Durflinger crossed through center ice as the forward picked the puck off the Phantom’s stick and moved down the left wing. From the top of the circle his shot sailed off the glove of Phantoms goaltender Ryan Bednard (Bowling Green State University, Florida Panthers) and into the net with 5:29 remaining in the game. Durflinger earned two points in the game with his 11th goal this season and earned the number one star.
The Thunder would head onto their second power play of the game during the first period on a checking from behind call to Kris Myllari (Penn State University). The defenseman dropped Thunder captain Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University) into the board for the misconduct and moments later he broke the scoring. Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) sent a pass toward the front of the net and Slaker was there to redirect the puck into the net on the power play. The 12th of the year for Slaker gave him goals in back-to-back games as the forward was awarded the game winner on Thursday night against Team USA.
In two periods the goaltenders shined for the second straight night. The Thunder ran into Bednard who came up with a couple dazzling saves in the game, including one on the Thunder captain in the second.
Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) posted 14 saves through the first two periods, but they did not come easy. The Phantoms offensive attack was backed by seven power play opportunities including two different 5-on-3 chances. The Thunder penalty kill stood tall with multiple blocks coming from the defensive core and crucial saves by Lavigne. The goaltender made 24 saves for the Thunder, picking up his 19th win of the season and second of the weekend.
The Phantoms lone goal of the game came in the third to tie the game at one. Matt Miller (Ohio State University) came to the high slot and fired a loose puck to the back of the net a little over three minutes into the period.
The Thunder will tangle with the Phantoms again on Saturday night from the Covelli Center. Puck drop will be at 6:05 p.m. (7:05 p.m.) for the second game of the weekend between Bloomington and Youngstown. The game also wraps up a stretch of six games in nine days for Bloomington.
