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Blaze Battle After Early Deficit, Fall at Wichita

March 2, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


WICHITA - The Bloomington Blaze, fueled by Mid-Illini Credit Union, battled back after a first-period deficit and the loss of another skater but lost 6-3 to the Wichita Thunder on Saturday at INTRUST Bank Arena.

The game started with long power plays for each team. The Blaze could not capitalize on a five-minute man advantage when Thunder forward Aaron Boogard was handed a match penalty 4:30 into the game for an elbow to the head of the Blaze's Leo Thomas. The Thunder were given a four-minute power play when an unsportsmanlike minor was added to a penalty, and Neil Trimm scored with 8:40 remaining in the opening period on assists from Dave Inman and Andrew Martens. The hosts increased the lead to 2-0 when a failed Blaze clearance resulted in a rebound goal for Matt Summers, assisted by Inman and R.G. Flath. The Thunder made it 3-0 when Flath redirected a Chad Painchaud blast from the right circle with 3:43 remaining before the first intermission.

The Blaze first dented the scoreboard with 10:35 left in the second period when Jon Booras poked home a loose puck at the right post on helpers from Nicolas Rioux and David Gilbert. Booras cut the deficit to 3-2 with 8:54 remaining when he completed a rush with Leland Fidler and Brett Lutes with a running shot from the slot. The Thunder regained a two-goal lead at 4-2 with 6:17 left in the second period when Painchaud blasted a drive from the right circle that squirted out of the mitt of Blaze goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier and into the back of the net.

The Blaze cut the deficit to one goal for a second time with a shorthanded goal when Matt Puntereri took advantage of a Thunder miscue at the Bloomington blue line and fed Travis Granbois for a breakaway goal. The Thunder again stretched the lead to a pair to 5-3 when Matt Robinson belted a drive from the deep slot off a face-off with 12:29 remaining. Chad Painchaud sealed the contest with an empty net goal with 54 seconds remaining.

Each team scored once on the power play with the Blaze handed three chances while the hosts were given man-advantages eight times. Torrie Jung earned a 19-save win while Pelletier took the loss with 36 saves.

The Blaze continue the road trip with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Tuesday in Independence, Mo. to face the Missouri Mavericks. Pre-game on WJBC.com and CHL-TV is at 6:45 p.m. and fans are invited to watch the game at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill Street in Bloomington. The Blaze visit Tulsa on Friday and Quad City next Sunday before returning home to face Quad City on Tuesday, March 12. For more information on the Blaze, call 309-TC SPORT (827-7678) or visit www.bloomingtonblaze.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMBlaze). For single-game and game day tickets, visit the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office weekdays between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. or call 309-434-2679.

Junior Blaze sweep Lightning: The Junior Blaze completed their two-game weekend sweep of the Great Lakes Lightning with a 10-3 triumph on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Travus McDonald earned the win with 23 saves, while Drew Daley registered a four-point day with a hat trick plus an assist. Steven Smoltz recorded a five-point afternoon with a goal and four assists, and Joe Clemente and Edgars Ozolinsh each scored two goals. The Junior Blaze return to U.S. Cellular Coliseum to conclude the regular season on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 against the Rhinelander Street Cats.

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