Surge Use Early Lead to Hold off Thunder
December 14, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
The Bloomington Thunder could not overcome two power play goals and a shorthanded goal despite a late attack and fell 5-2 to the Mississippi Surge on Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The Surge scored first with just 5:21 elapsed as Tommy Lange deflected a feed from Jarkko Leppanen and Luke Greiner at the right post as a power play was about to expire for the only first period tally.
Mississippi increased the lead to 2-0 on another power play goal as Mark Thorburn picked up a deflected clearance attempt and scored top shelf from the right circle with 14:44 showing on the second period clock. The Surge scored a shorthanded tally just 2:09 later when Thunder goalie B.J. O'Brien failed to clear a puck just outside of the crease and Kyle Kudroch easily chipped the disc into the empty net for a 3-0 advantage. The Thunder brought the teddy bears onto the ice for Toys for Tots with his fourth goal of the season on a backhanded spin from the left circle assisted by Alex Milley and Travis Granbois with 3:15 before the second intermission to cut their deficit to 3-1.
The Surge pushed the lead back to three goals with Thorburn scored through the five-hole just as a Thunder power play ended with 18:35 left in the third period. The Thunder connected on a power play with 13:12 remaining to cut the margin to 4-2 when Paul Arnott swept around the right circle and snuck in a sharp angle shot assisted by Granbois and Tyler Noseworthy. The Surge set the final score with an empty net goal by Luke Greiner just before the final horn.
The Surge were 2-of-5 on the power play while the Thunder were 1-for-7. B.J. O'Brien took the loss in goal with 29 saves while Mathieu Dugas stopped 31 shots in the win.
The Thunder conclude the series with the Surge at 3:05 p.m. Sunday. Kids 12 and under get in for only $5 and kids meals are only $3, and fans of all ages are invited to skate with the team after the game. The Junior Blaze will finish their series with the Michigan Ice Dogs at 11 a.m. before the Thunder game, completing Saturday's game suspended due to ice problems with Michigan leading 3-2 followed by the regularly scheduled contest. The Thunder play rival Peoria Rivermen three times next weekend with Bloomington hosting Saturday's game with the Friday and Sunday affairs played in Carver Arena. For more information on the Thunder, visit www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder) or call 309-434-2980.
SPHL Stories from December 14, 2013
- Surge Win in Bloomington - Mississippi Surge
- Surge Use Early Lead to Hold off Thunder - Bloomington Thunder
- Karpowich Called up to ECHL Gwinnett - Peoria Rivermen
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