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Stinziani Hat Trick Fells Blaze

January 10, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Blaze, fueled by Mid-Illini Credit Union, were burned by a hat trick and lost 5-2 on Thursday night to the Quad City Mallards at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The Mallards struck first just 1:29 into the game on a goal by Mike Hellyer, who swatted the puck out of Blaze goalie Pier-Olivier Pelletier's mitt after an attempted save on a Mickey Lang blast on an odd-man rush. The Mallards made it 2-0 on a drive by Mike Stinziani that bounced under the crossbar into the top of the net, assisted by Lang and Mitch McColm, with 11:24 left in the opening period. The Blaze cut the margin to 2-1 on a power play with 4:40 left in the first chapter when Jay Barriball converted a pass at the left post from assists by Nicklas Lindberg and Jared Walker.

Stinziani increased the Mallard lead to 3-1 when he grabbed a puck at the top of the Quad City zone, then raced to the other end to bury a wrister top shelf with only 1:31 elapsed in the second period. The Blaze answered when Ryan Palmer rifled a drive from the left circle with 12:24 on assists from Nicklas Lindberg and Aaron Dawson to cut the Mallard lead to 3-2.

The Mallards pushed their advantage to 4-2 with a shorthanded tally with 14:37 remaining in the third period when Stinziani took a long pass after a breakup by Derek Matheson and completed his hat trick with a breakaway goal. Anthony Perdicaro took advantage of the lack of a Blaze clearance and spun a shot from the left dot inside the right post with 9:50 left in regulation.

Pier-Olivier Pelletier took the loss in goal with 25 saves while Neil Conway earned the win with a 24-save effort.

The Blaze and Mallards will rematch Friday at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Blaze complete the weekend with a Saturday visit to Tulsa. For more information on the Blaze, visit www.bloomingtonblaze.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMBlaze) or call 309-TC SPORT (827-7678). For single-game and game day tickets, visit or call the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office at 309-434-2679.

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