Power Play Goals Fell Blaze in Denver
February 1, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release
DENVER - The Bloomington Blaze, fueled by Mid-Illini Credit Union, surrendered three power play goals in a 4-2 loss to the Denver Cutthroats on Friday evening at Denver Coliseum.
The Cutthroats connected on a power play to start the scoring with 15:04 left in the opening period on a Troy Schwab delivery from the slot that pinballed in the net with assists given to Ben Wilson and Brett Lutes. Another Denver power play goal with 3:51 left in the opening period increased the lead to 2-0 when Chris Greene scored from the slot on assists from Luke Fulghum and Gabe Gauthier.
The Blaze tallied with 10:49 left in the second period as Leo Thomas scored in his Blaze debut on feeds from Kyle Bochek and Steve Makway to cut the hosts' lead to 2-1. A.J. Gale raced around the left wing and rang in a goal off the crossbar and right post on assists from Schwab and Brett Lutes with 5:38 left in the middle chapter to give the Cutthroats their third power play goal and a 3-1 lead at the second intermission.
A power play goal by Steve Makway from the left point on a patient wrist shot with 12:40 left in the third on assists from Nicklas Lindberg and Jon Booras cut the Blaze deficit to 3-2. The Blaze emptied their net with just over a minute to play, but Brad Smyth sealed the win with an empty net goal with 28.9 seconds remaining.
Pier-Olivier Pelletier took the loss with 25 saves, while Kieran Millan earned the win with 42 stops. The Cutthroats were 3-for-6 on the power play while the Blaze were 1-of-5.
The Blaze continue their two-game set in the Mile High City on Saturday night at 8:05 p.m. Central in the rematch at Denver Coliseum. Pre-game on WJBC.com and CHL-TV begins at 7:45 and fans are invited to watch the game at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill Street in Bloomington. The Blaze conclude the six-game road stretch next Friday, February 8 at Quad City before returning home to face the Mallards on Saturday, February 9 at 7:05 p.m. for American Heart Association Night sponsored by OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. The Blaze will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned after the game and fans who wear red on Saturday get in for only $10. For more information on the Blaze, call 309-TC SPORT (827-7678), visit www.bloomingtonblaze.com, like the Blaze on Facebook and follow the team on Twitter (BLMBlaze). For game day and single-game tickets, visit the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office or call 309-434-2679.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2013
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