Late Goals Cost Thunder Fifth Straight

January 22, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - A great start turned into a sour finishfor the Bloomington Thunder on Friday night, who fell to the YoungstownPhantoms 3-2 at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Phantoms overcame an earlytwo-goal deficit to score three unanswered over the second and third periods.It is just the second loss for the Thunder since the New Year and halted the Thunder's(20-11-2-1) four-game win streak. The Phantoms (17-11-3-5) are one point behindthe Thunder in the Eastern Conference after the win.

It was a quickstart on special teams as both BroganRafferty (Quinnipiac University) and PatrickCurry scored goals on the power play to start the game. Rafferty netted thefirst goal just 17 seconds into the power play and 2:46 into the period. Theshot sailed over the glove of RyanBednard (Bowling Green State University, Florida Panthers) from the rightwing side. It was the second of the season for the West Dundee, IL native.

Curry thennetted his seventh of the season to give the team a 2-0 lead three minuteslater. Bloomington worked the puck down to TarekBaker (University of Wisconsin) and LoganLambdin for the feed to Curry in front of the net. The goal found its wayinto the net and gave Baker his second point of the night. The Verona, WInative has 13 points over eight straight games.

The Thunderwould finish the night 2-for-4 on the power play as the team could not cash inthrough the second and third periods. Bednard finished strong for the Phantomsand made 32 saves on the night to earn his 11th win of the year.

Despiteoutshooting the Phantoms 14-4 in the second period, Youngstown was the onlyteam to grab a goal. A harmless play off a faceoff found its way to the stickof Alex Esposito (University of Vermont)on the back door. After Tommy Apap (MichiganState University) won the faceoff, KevinConley (University of Denver) got a shot blocked and Esposito put home his10th goal of the season. Somehow it made its way through thegoaltender Hayden Lavigne (University ofMichigan) who finished the night with 21 saves. It was his first loss sinceDecember as the netminder now has a 15-5-0-1 record.

Bloomingtonkilled off each penalty kill in the game but moments after their final kill, Chase Person (University of Notre Dame,Detroit Red Wings) would put home another strange goal. The first two shotswere blocked in front of the net during the third period and the NHL Draft Pickhad the puck home for a third chance. His shot found the net and gave him 31 points(9g, 22a) as the second scorer on Phantoms tied it at two with 12 more minutesto play.

As the game headedto the waning minutes, Connor Moore(Boston College) netted the game-winning goal. A shot from the blue linefound its way through a screen and found the net with less than three minutesto play. The goal was the Phantoms leading defenseman's third of the year. Thereigning Defenseman of the Week continued his four game point streak with hisninth point.

Bloomington Thunder Try to Sneak a Puck past the Youngstown Phantoms (Niki D Photography)	Bloomington Thunder vs. the Youngstown Phantoms (Niki D Photography)	Bloomington Thunder Prepares to Shoot vs. the Youngstown Phantoms (Niki D Photography)
Bloomington Thunder Close in on the Youngstown Phantoms Goal (Tyler Mardis)

United States Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2016

• Force Win Big in Front of Sellout Crowd - Fargo Force
• Moore's Late Goal Caps Phantoms' Comeback - Youngstown Phantoms
• All Fargo on Friday - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Storm Cash in Quickly, Beat Fighting Saints - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Storm's late-period goals sink Fighting Saints, 4-1 - Tri-City Storm
• Buccaneers lose to Lancers - Des Moines Buccaneers
• Late Goals Cost Thunder Fifth Straight - Bloomington Thunder
• Stars Blast Musketeers, 7-1 - Lincoln Stars
• Cedar Rapids Holds on to 3-2 Win over Muskegon - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Alger's Big Night Lifts Lancers over Bucs, 5-1 - Omaha Lancers
• Gamblers Start Weekend with 2-1 Win - Green Bay Gamblers
• Stampede Can't Rally Past Green Bay - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Stevens & McElhenie Pace Caps' Romp of Team USA - Madison Capitols
• Capitols Wind Down Homestead against Team USA U17's - Madison Capitols
• Pecararo Picks Huskies Program - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Gamblers Announce Participating Teachers for Dash for Cash - Green Bay Gamblers
• Thunder Host Phantoms in Bloomington - Bloomington Thunder
• Stars Host Musketeers for Fourth Meeting of Season - Lincoln Stars
• Musketeers in Lincoln Tonight - Sioux City Musketeers

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