PrairieThunder Notes
April 5, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Bloomington PrairieThunder will be out to end its road woes at Quad City with two games in three days at the iWireless Center this week in International Hockey League action.
The PrairieThunder, which is winless in all seven games in Moline this year, meets the Mallards at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. In between, the Thunder concludes its regular-season home schedule Friday with a 7:05 p.m. game against league-leading Muskegon at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Bloomington has a 31-29-4-6 record for 72 points in the standings, good for fourth place. The number of victories ties the team record set in 2007-08 and the points in the standings eclipse the team record of 69, also set in the 2007-08 campaign.
The PrairieThunder's magic number for clinching the team's first postseason playoff berth in history is 10 over Flint and two over Quad City. Any combination of PrairieThunder wins and loses by Flint or Quad City reduces the magic number.
The earliest the PrairieThunder could clinch at least a share of a playoff berth is Friday. The criteria for breaking a tie for a playoff berth is overall wins; head-to-head wins. Bloomington has 31 wins compared to Flint's 29. The PrairieThunder owns a commanding 8-3 advantage in the season series with the Generals. Flint has eight games remaining, while Bloomington has six.
The PrairieThunder has a 7-7-0-1 record overall against Quad City in the season series. Bloomington is 2-6-1-2 in games with Muskegon.
Friday is Fan Appreciation Day, along with Chicago Blackhawks Night. The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive a Chicago Blackhawks' hat, compliments of Country Financial. The first 2,000 fans also will receive a reusable PrairieThunder grocery bag, compliments of CM Promotions.
*Thunder rumbles*
Seven members of the PrairieThunder are experiencing career-best seasons this year in goals scored, assists or overall points. Forward Craig Macdonald is the leader with 43 goals and 44 assists for 87 points. Other players enjoying career-high seasons are Jason Lepine, Billy Bagron, Robin Gomez, Matthew Spiller, Preston Briggs and Justin Sawyer.
When John Snowden scored a hat trick in Saturday's 5-2 victory over Flint, it marked the third hat trick in the last seven games for the Thunder and the team's seventh of the season. Other players with hat tricks include Craig Macdonald (3), Matthew Spiller, Jon Booras and Bill Bagron.
Since returning from the 30-day injury list, goaltender Andrew Martin has a 3-1-1-1 record with an .899 save percentage and a 2.71 goals against average in his last seven games.
John Snowden and Preston Briggs have combined for 20 points since joining in the team from Dayton in a trade 10 games ago. Snowden has nine goals and five assists for 14 points in nine games, while Briggs has six assists in 10 games.
The No. 1 line of Craig Macdonald, Jon Booras and John Snowden has produced 37 points in the last seven games. Macdonald has 13 points (eight goals and five assists), while Snowden and Booras each have 12 points. Snowden has eight goals with four assists, while Booras has two goals and 10 assists.
Macdonald ranks third in the league in overall scoring with 87 points. He leads the league in game-winning goals with 11 and is second in goals scored with 43 and power play goals with 15. Booras is fifth in scoring, second in assists and third in power play assists.
Jason Lepine is tied for first in scoring among defensemen. He is first in assists and third in goals scored. He also leads in power play assists and is second in power play goals. Zac Pearson is second in short-handed goals and assists. He is tied with teammates Matt McIlvane and Justin Sawyer in short-handed assists. Sawyer leads the league with 270 penalty minutes.
The PrairieThunder is 26-0-2-2 when leading after the first period and 27-0-1-2 when leading after the second period.
Craig Macdonald and Jon Booras are tied for the team lead with multiple point games at 24.
Jason Lepine, Zac Pearson, Justin Sawyer and Craig Macdonald have played in all 70 games.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 5, 2010
- Race For Final Playoff Spot Heats Up - IHL 2
- IHL Announces Weekly Honors For Week Twenty-Five - IHL 2
- Port Huron Sweeps IHL Awards For Week 25 - Port Huron Icehawks
- Komets Home For Three This Week - Fort Wayne Komets
- PrairieThunder Notes - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Generals Offer Spring Break Special - Flint Generals
- Dayton Gems Welcome WPAFB Kids and Presents Check to Miami Valley Career Tech Center - Dayton Gems
- Icehawks Match Up With Generals Three Times This Week - Port Huron Icehawks
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
