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Halladay Shuts Down Caps in Goalie Duel

January 2, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Bloomington Thunder Goaltender Logan Halladay
Bloomington Thunder Goaltender Logan Halladay
(Bloomington Thunder)

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - For the second straight start, Logan Halladay ended the game with a shutout, stopping 29 shots as the Bloomington Thunder topped the Madison Capitols 2-0 Saturday night from the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. In front of 2,600 strong for Star Wars night, Bloomington (16-9-2-1) picked up two third period goals to beat their sophomore counterparts, the Capitols (11-15-1-2). The Thunder are two points out of third place behind the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders while the Capitols remain in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) netted his seventh goal of the season, which proved to be the game winner for the Thunder. The first goal came 2:55 into the third period on a pass from Pat Curry who finished the night with two points. The recent addition to the Thunder's captain staff scored on the power play, helping the team to a 1-for-3 finish on the man advantage. They ended the game 2-for-2 on the penalty kill as well.

Later in the period, Curry gave the team some insurance with his sixth goal of the year. Matt Foley (Yale University) took the puck around the wall and from behind the net fed the Schaumburg, IL native for the one-timer. The goal helped Curry earn the second star of the game behind Halladay who has not surrendered a goal in over 147 minutes of playing time.

The first period flew by as the Thunder were back to business as usual. Through one frame, there was a scoreless game, but not for lack of chances. Halladay was 8-for-8 and Garrett Metcalf (University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Anaheim Ducks) was also 15-of-15. Shots came from the Thunder and Capitols, but defensive efforts by both teams kept it scoreless. The game was played even strength despite one power play chance for each team totaling just ten seconds of power play time combined.

Metcalf continued the duel of fates between netminders in the second period. Each team traded chances in the second but the goalies came up with stops to hold off the opposition. The Thunder also killed off a four minute double minor in the period to keep the game tied. Halladay stopped 12 in the period while Metcalf turned away 10.

Both Blake Gober (Penn State University) and Mitchel Chaffee picked up helpers in the game as the Thunder managed 43 shots on net in the game. Metcalf falls for the 11th time this season despite tying a season high for the third time with 41 saves in the game.

Halladay becomes the first Thunder goaltender to pitch back-to-back shutouts and also has earned his first career shutouts in the last two starts. The Cary, NC native is 4-5-2-0 and has his last four starts combining for 101 saves over the four games. Bloomington has now won eight of their last nine games.

The Thunder are home against the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Bloomington will face the 'Jacks for the first time since a 2-1 shootout loss at the Coliseum in November. Muskegon is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference and will play their first game of the New Year on Friday.

NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, January 8th - 7 p.m. - The Thunder host the Muskegon Lumberjacks for the second time this season at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The game is presented by Carpets Plus Color Tile and will feature $1 Budweiser drafts and Pepsi products from 6-7 p.m. Tickets start at $10 and kids tickets are $7. Call (309) 434-2980 for information or to purchase.

Holiday Hat Trick: Call the Thunder for their holiday hat trick package. For just $55 you get four tickets to an upcoming game, a Thunder team hat, and a Thunder mini stick! That's a value of over $90. Visit the Thunder office or call (309) 434-2980 for this amazing limited time offer.




Images from this story

Bloomington Thunder Goaltender Logan Halladay
Bloomington Thunder Goaltender Logan Halladay
   



United States Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2016


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