Thunder Drop OT Affair at Pensacola
January 31, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Bloomington Thunder earned a point but lost 3-2 in overtime on Friday night to the Pensacola Ice Flyers at the Pensacola Bay Center.
After a scoreless first half of the game, the Thunder broke the ice on a shorthanded goal by Travis Granbois, who converted a back door feed from Paul Arnott on a rush with 7:20 left in the second period. The Ice Flyers were awarded a penalty shot with 1:38 left in the middle period when Peter Cintala fell on a trickling puck just before it crossed the goal line, but Thunder goalie Max Strang stopped Joe Caveney with a glove save. Caveney evened the contest just 45 seconds later when he drilled a running blast from the right circle that whistled between Strang's glove shoulder and the right post with 52.6 seconds before the second intermission to even the game at 1-1.
Pensacola gained a 2-1 advantage with 15:08 left on a Joshua Turnbull wraparound inside the left post on an assist from Caveney. The Thunder earned the equalizer for a 2-2 count with 13:24 remaining when Nic Polaski stole the puck at center, weaved to the left circle through traffic and flipped the puck off the shoulder of Flyers goalie Ross MacKinnon and into the net.
The Ice Flyers collected the second point just 42 seconds into overtime when Turnbull took a back door feed from Shaun Arvai and buried it from the left side.
Strang took the loss despite stopping 48 shots while MacKinnon earned the win with 26 saves. Neither team scored on the power play with the Thunder given four chances and six man-advantages handed to the Flyers.
The Thunder face the Ice Flyers in the rematch in the Florida panhandle on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Central with the game available online at WJBC.com and America One Sports with links to the broadcasts on www.bloomingtonthunder.com. The Thunder return home for a Tuesday night matchup against the Peoria Rivermen on Pack the House Night featuring $2 admission when presenting a voucher at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office, plus $2 drafts, sodas, hot dogs and popcorn.
The latest Thunder information, including details on new multi-game discount packages, is at www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter or by calling the Thunder office at 309-434-2980. Single-game and gameday tickets are available at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office and by calling 309-434-2679.
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SPHL Stories from January 31, 2014
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- Ice Flyers Derail Thunder 3-2 in OT - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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- Thunder Drop OT Affair at Pensacola - Bloomington Thunder
- IceGators Survive, Edge RiverKings 5-4 - Louisiana IceGators
- Mississippi Surge Downs Fayetteville, 2-1 - Mississippi Surge
- Rank's Fourth Shutout Leads Rivermen Past Knoxville - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Visit Ice Bears this Weekend - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Sign Former Bloomington D-Man Kory Helowka - Peoria Rivermen
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