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Baker Breaks Record in Loss to Muskegon

February 5, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan - The Weekend started with a Bloomington Thunder lead, but the Muskegon Lumberjacks countered with a strong third period to take a 6-3 win. The first of two games on the weekend moves Muskegon (15-16-2-2) one win under a .500 record. Bloomington (21-13-3-1) rests in fifth in the Eastern Conference after the game.

Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) broke the Thunder's single season goal scoring record against the Lumberjacks. Shane Bednard (Bowling Green State University) held the lead with 16 goals in 2014-15, but a breakaway Friday night put the Thunder's leading scorer in the record books. After a turnover, Baker went down to score his 17th goal of the season. It gave the 2-1 lead to the Thunder after tallies from both teams to start the game.

An early lead was turned in by Vlad Dzhioshvili (Cornell University) with some help from Steven Merl (University of Michigan) just under two minutes into the game. The Russian born forward put his fourth of the season to the back of the net from the low slot. After Merl broke into the zone on a 3-on-2, he slipped it to Dzhioshvili in the low slot for a shot through the legs of Joey Daccord (Arizona State University, Ottawa Senators).

Dante Palecco (Yale University) answered for the Lumberjacks on a turnover and a rebound at the bottom of the left wing circle. In his first game back with Muskegon, Robbie DeMontis (Yale University) put a shot off the left pad of the Thunder's goaltender Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan). The bounce came to Palecco who put home his sixth of the season to tie the game.

The goaltenders combined for an impressive second, trading breakaway saves. Lavigne made two off a Lumberjack chance late in the period and Daccord answered back with a toe save on Jake Durflinger to keep his team down by one.

With 34 second left in the period, the USHL's leading scorer Rem Pitlick (University of Minnesota) netted his 25th goal of the year by batting the puck on an odd man rush. The goal tied the game headed into the final 20 minutes.

The third opened with back-to-back goals for Dallas Stars Draft pick Matej Paulovic (Dallas Stars). The first came unassisted on the power play when he won the faceoff forward and tucked the puck into the net. The second was almost eight minutes later on a back door pass from Collin Adams (University of North Dakota) and the eventual game-winning goal.

The Thunder countered with one of their own. Ryan Brushett (Providence College) scored his first with the team since his acquisition off the skate of the Lumberjacks defenders. Down by one with four minutes left, the Thunder worked chances in front of Daccord but could not find the net again. Two final goals were scored at the end of the game by Muskegon to seal the win.

The Lumberjacks goaltender earned the win with 36 saves while Lavigne suffered the loss with 26 saves in 56 minutes of work.

BOX SCORE: bit.ly/1VXaRWw

Bloomington will be back to take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Saturday from the L.C. Walker Arena. The finish to the weekend series will be the fifth meeting between the teams of six. Puck drop will be 6:15 p.m. (7:15 p.m. EST) for the second straight night.

NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, February 12th - 7 p.m. - The Thunder battle with the Green Bay Gamblers to open a weekend series from the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Doors open at 6 p.m. and until puck drop there are $1 draft beers and soft drinks at the Coliseum concession stands. Tickets start at $10 for the game and could go even lower with youth, senior, and military discounts. Call the Thunder office at (309) 434-2980 for more information and the best deals on tickets.



United States Hockey League Stories from February 5, 2016


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