Thunder Eliminated with Loss at Peoria
March 18, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
PEORIA - The Bloomington Thunder ended a four-game winning streak over the Peoria Rivermen and were eliminated from post-season possibilities with a 4-1 loss on Tuesday night at Carver Arena.
The Rivermen scored first just 4:06 into the game on a 5-on-3 power play when Taylor Larsen raked the puck back under control on the right wall, then walked in for a top shelf goal that clanged off the pipe. Mike Henderson tied the game with a one-timer from the left circle on a feed from behind the net by Harry Mahesh also assisted by Paul D'Agostino.
Peoria took a 2-1 lead 2:26 into the middle period when a rebound got away from Thunder goalie Max Strang and was chopped in after a flurry by Adam Hartley.
The Rivermen grabbed a 3-1 lead with 13:39 left in regulation when Alex Mentink caught a long headman pass and scored on a breakaway. Just 1:40 later, the Rivs earned a 4-1 advantage when Rob Vanwynsberghe won a battle in the corner and walked in front to beat Strang.
Kevin Carr earned the win in goal with 20 saves while Strang, in net for the Thunder for the first time since February 1, suffered the loss with 21 stops. The Thunder were unsuccessful in five power plays while the Rivermen converted one of their six chances.
Before the game, the Thunder activated forward Dennis Sicard from the injured list and received Strang from his loan to South Carolina of the ECHL, and signed forward John Scully, who led the University of Illinois team with 24 goals and 10 assists for 34 points this season. The Thunder waived goalie Breton Lindoff, who was 1-3-0 in six games with a 3.85 goals against average and an .879 save percentage, and forward Tyler Noseworthy, who was the second leading scorer with nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points but had recorded only one goal and four assists in the last 21 games.
The Thunder conclude the regular season with games at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum against the league-leading Pensacola Ice Flyers. The games can be heard on 93.7 FM inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum and online at WJBC.com and America One subscription video. Broadcast links are on www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder) along with the latest team information. Friday is Pepsi Date Night featuring two lower end tickets for only $20 when bringing a Pepsi product to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office. Saturday is another Kids Eat Free Night presented by SERVPRO in which fans 12 and under eat free hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, popcorn and fries until the first Thunder goal. Saturday is also Fan Appreciation Night with end-of-season player awards and a post-game jersey auction. Group discounts are available through the Thunder office at 309-434-2980 and individual tickets are available at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. daily.
SPHL Stories from March 18, 2014
- Playoff Tickets Go on Sale Wednesday, March 19 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Thunder Eliminated with Loss at Peoria - Bloomington Thunder
- Fayetteville Erases Deficit to Stun Knoxville, 5-4 - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Columbus Erases Deficit to Stun Louisiana, 5-4 - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Shannon Szabados and the Columbus Cottonmouths' Next Stop: Biloxi, Mississippi - Mississippi Surge
- Pensacola's Ross MacKinnon Named Easton Player of the Week - SPHL
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