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Blaze Take Gems for Third Straight Win

March 9, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


DAYTON, Ohio - The Bloomington Blaze, presented by Mid-Illini Credit Union, scored three straight goals in the third period to earn their third straight win, 5-3 over the Dayton Gems on Friday night at Hara Arena.

The Gems opened the scoring on the first power play when Damien Surma rattled a one-timer from the right point with 7:08 remaining. Brandon Richardson buried a slap shot from the right point to tie the game for the Blaze with 5:30 left in the opening period, with an assist given to Doug Krantz.

The Blaze broke the tie with 2:43 left in the second period when the puck squirted free from a scrum on the back wall onto the stick of Vladimir Nikiforov, who nudged it in at close range from the right side. Assists went to Brent Clarke and Kyle Laughlin, and the Blaze led 2-1 at the second intermission.

The Gems quickly tied the game just 1:03 into the third period when Brandon Naurato corralled an odd hop and scored inside the left post. Dayton made it 3-2 when Damien Surma scored his second goal of the game, a top shelf drive from the slot on a 5-on-3 power play only 2:03 later with 16:54 left in the third period. The Blaze evened the game again with 13:35 left in regulation when a poke check off Jon Booras's stick landed onto the blade of Omar Pacha, with Brandon Richardson earning the second assist. The Blaze regained the lead with 12:04 left in the third period when Kyle Laughlin cleaned up a poke check off his stick and he backhanded one home at the doorstep to put the Blaze ahead 4-3. Laughlin put the Blaze ahead 5-3 with 2:09 left when he picked up a poke off Vladimir Nikiforov's stick and whistled a wrister from the slot, with the second assist given to Luke Popko.

Zane Kalemba earned his third straight in net with 39 saves to improve to 17-15-5. Dan Dunn picked up his first regulation loss to fall to 4-1-1 with 29 saves.

The Blaze conclude the weekend series in suburban Dayton on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Central in the rematch with the Gems. The game can be found live on WJBC.com and CHL-TV, as well as at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill Street in Bloomington. The Blaze return home for their final three games of the season at U.S. Cellular Coliseum next week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Wednesday matchup against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees is Ladies Night presented by Fox and Hounds with half-price tickets for the ladies. On Friday, the Missouri Mavericks visit with fleece blankets given to the first 1,200 fans compliments of Mid-Illini Credit Union, plus Friday is a Pepsi Date Night, when fans who bring a Pepsi product to the box office when buying a reserved seat ticket receive a second seat free, and combo meals are priced two-for-one. Saturday against the Dayton Gems is Fan Appreciation Night with a giant St. Patrick's Day party including green beer and special Irish jerseys worn by the Blaze and auctioned immediately after the game.

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