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Special Teams Huge in Thunder Win

February 26, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - With the game tied in the third period, theYoungstown Phantoms overlooked JakeDurflinger whose center ice turnover gave the Bloomington Thunder a 2-1win. The Friday night was the second game of the weekend for Bloomington(26-17-3-1) as they top the Phantoms (22-15-4-5) to hold onto the fourth placespot in the Eastern Conference.

Durflinger crossed throughcenter ice as the forward picked the puck off the Phantom's stick and moveddown the left wing. From the top of the circle his shot sailed off the glove ofPhantoms goaltender Ryan Bednard(Bowling Green State University, Florida Panthers) and into the net with5:29 remaining in the game. Durflinger earned two points in the game with his11th goal this season and earned the number one star.

The Thunder would head ontotheir second power play of the game during the first period on a checking frombehind call to Kris Myllari (Penn StateUniversity). The defenseman dropped Thunder captain Jake Slaker (St. LawrenceUniversity) into the board for the misconduct and moments later he brokethe scoring. Jeremy Davies (NortheasternUniversity) sent a pass toward the front of the net and Slaker was there toredirect the puck into the net on the power play. The 12th of theyear for Slaker gave him goals in back-to-back games as the forward was awardedthe game winner on Thursday night against Team USA.

In two periods thegoaltenders shined for the second straight night. The Thunder ran into Bednard whocame up with a couple dazzling saves in the game, including one on the Thundercaptain in the second.

Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) posted 14 saves through the first two periods,but they did not come easy. The Phantoms offensive attack was backed by sevenpower play opportunities including two different 5-on-3 chances. The Thunderpenalty kill stood tall with multiple blocks coming from the defensive core andcrucial saves by Lavigne. The goaltender made 24 saves for the Thunder, pickingup his 19th win of the season and second of the weekend.

The Phantoms lone goal of thegame came in the third to tie the game at one. Matt Miller (Ohio State University) came to the high slot and fireda loose puck to the back of the net a little over three minutes into theperiod.



United States Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2016


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