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Mehr Tallies in Loss to Lancers

January 29, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Bloomington Thunder Take a Shot vs. the Omaha Lancers
Bloomington Thunder Take a Shot vs. the Omaha Lancers
(Bloomington Thunder)

OMAHA, Nebraska - Through two periods the Bloomington Thunder and Omaha Lancers held one another in check until an eventual 4-1 finish from Ralston Arena Friday night. Three third period goals by Omaha dealt the Thunder their second loss in three games, opening their weekend series against the Lancers. The Thunder (20-12-3-1) picked up a goal from Alec Mehr in the defeat, but Omaha (19-14-2-1) was able to fend off the Thunder's power play for the win.

The third period opened with two goals from the Lancers. 11 seconds into the final frame, Nathan Krusko (Harvard University) netted the eventual game winning goal on a rebound that came to the front of the net. The 11th of the season for Krusko also handed Johan Steen and Matthew Meier assists and gave the Lancers a 2-0 lead. Then a shorthanded chance off a faceoff made it 3-0. Josh French (Minnesota State University-Mankato) slipped it to JC MacLean for his fourth of the season 6:28 into the period.

Mehr scored for the Thunder with 5:30 to play in the game on a one-timer shot from the circle. The drop pass from Ethan Somoza (Bemidji State University) was right to Mehr who scored his fifth of the year on the play.

Special teams would prove to be a factor in the game. The Thunder had two chances on the power play and worked ten shots in the opening period, but the second ranked penalty kill of the Lancers kept the Thunder off the board. It was the Lancers power play that broke the scoreless tie in the first with an Austin Alger (Miami University) goal, five minutes remaining in the period. Alger's eighth goal of the year put the Lancers on the board with 12 shots in the period.

Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) faced a couple chances for the Thunder in front of the net, but none were better than a breakaway chance for Matthew Meier after coming out of the penalty box. The Thunder goalie stopped that and ten other shots in the period to keep it a one-goal game to start the second. He finished the game with 28 saves.

Zach Skog stopped 25 in the game and held the Lancers ahead in the game despite Bloomington chances at the top of the crease. Bloomington opened the second with a large scrum in front of the Lancer net. Skog could not find the puck and the Thunder put it just before the goal line before Omaha could clear the crease. After a review by the referee, the goal was ruled to not have crossed the line and it remained 1-0.

Later in the period a 2-on-1 came up empty. Logan Lambdin slid a shot across to Patrick Curry who rang a shot off the cross bar behind Skog. Lavigne stopped seven shots in the period to keep the game tight for the final 20 minutes.

The final goal of the game came from Lancer captain Nick Rivera (Minnesota State University-Mankato) on a 5-on-3 power play to end the game. Rivera's 16th of the year earned him the number one star and the Lancers the 4-1 finish.

The Thunder will be back for round two with the Lancers on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Catch the broadcast live on the Thunder's broadcasting network WJBC.com starting with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.




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Bloomington Thunder Take a Shot vs. the Omaha Lancers
Bloomington Thunder Take a Shot vs. the Omaha Lancers

  

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