Blaze Battle Back to Take Shootout Win

January 7, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Blaze, presented by Mid-Illini Credit Union, tied Saturday's game in the final seconds of the second period and defeated the Evansville IceMen 4-3 in a shootout win at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Evansville broke on top with 1:43 remaining in the opening period as Nicklas Lindberg buried a rebound from the slot. The Blaze evened the count with 13:58 left in the middle period when Luke Popko went top shelf from the right side for a power play goal assisted by Vladimir Nikiforov and Jason Dale. The IceMen answered with a power play goal of their own with 10:05 left in the second chapter with Phillippe Plante sent the puck inside the left post after a flurry in front of the net. The IceMen added another tally just 1:37 later with a shot by Jake Obermeyer from the right point that went inside the left post on the stick side to give Evansville a 3-1 lead. The Blaze cut the deficit to 3-2 with 2:11 remaining in the second period when Craig Cescon tipped home a rebound from Omar Pacha's wraparound attempt, with the second assist to Jerry Pollastrone. With only 6.3 seconds left in the frame, Pollastrone knocked in a rebound, with assists to Doug Krantz and Vladimir Nikiforov to put the game even at 3-3.

The third period and resulting overtime were scoreless. The Blaze scored goals by Kyle Laughlin and Vladimir Nikiforov in the first two rounds of the shootout, and Blaze goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson made four straight saves to keep the IceMen scoreless in the shootout and earn his first Bloomington win.

The Blaze outshot the IceMen 35-26. Evansville was 1-for-3 on the power play while the Blaze scored on their only man-advantage chance. The Blaze improve to 11-19-2, while the IceMen fall to 17-10-2 ahead of Sunday's rematch in Evansville.

The Blaze conclude the first half of the season with Sunday's 7:15 p.m. face-off at Evansville. The game can be heard on WJBC.com and CHL-TV at 7 p.m., and fans are invited to watch the game at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill Street in Bloomington. After the Central Hockey League All-Star Game in Arizona on Wednesday, the Blaze begin the second half of the season on Friday night at Fort Wayne before returning home for a 7:05 p.m. Saturday date with the Missouri Mavericks and a Sunday home game at 4:05 p.m. against the Quad City Mallards.

The first 1,000 fans on Saturday night receive a free water bottle compliments of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. Sunday is Kitchen Cooked Family Fun Day with tickets for kids 12 under at just $5 with kids meals of a hot dog, chips and a drink for only $3. Fans are invited to skate with the players after the game on Sunday.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2012


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