Blaze Win Fifth Straight Home Game
December 16, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release
BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Blaze, presented by Mid-Illini Credit Union, made an early lead hold up as they won their fifth home game in a row by a 5-3 score over the Dayton Gems on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Bloomington lit the lamp twice in the first period on two Brodie Sheahan goals. With 9:23 left in the opening period, Sheahan shoved in a flurry in front of the net, with assists to Luke Popko and Vladimir Nikiforov. The Blaze made it 2-0 with 7:05 remaining as Sheahan redirected a Nikiforov blast from the high slot, with Mark Znutas picking up the second assist.
The Blaze tallied twice more in the second period. Jason Dale made it 3-0 with 15:35 left in the second period when he stuffed home a power play goal at the left post, assisted by Kyle Laughlin and Aaron Dawson. Nikiforov increased the lead to 4-0 with 13:13 left in the middle frame when he blocked a shot at the top of the zone and raced in for a breakaway goal.
The Gems made the game interesting with three unanswered third-period goals. Dayton finally broke onto the scoreboard with 18:28 left in the third period when Brandon Naurato whistled one from the right wing, assisted by Ryan Hohl and Tim Hartung, to cut the Blaze lead to 4-1. The Gems cut it to 4-2 when Damien Surma rolled one inside of the left post, with assists by Charlie Townsend and Brett Lutes. A rebound goal by Nick Fanto, assisted by Jonathan Ornelas and Chad Langlais, with 3:31 remaining in regulation made it a 4-3 contest. Dayton put the extra attacker on in the game's final minute, but Jon Booras took a feed from Travis Granbois, who had broken up a Gems pass, to seal the win.
The Blaze outshot the Gems 41-24. The Blaze improve to 6-13-2 while the Gems lose their fifth straight and their first in regulation to the Blaze to fall to 8-10-4. Bloomington was 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Gems did not score on four power play chances.
The teams rematch on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum before traveling to Dayton on Sunday for a 3 p.m. Central face-off to complete the three-game series. The games can be heard on WJBC.com and CHL-TV. Tickets, group packages and more information are available by calling the Blaze office at 309-434-2980.
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