Thunder Fall in Game 1 of Conference Final

April 29, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Bloomington Thunder have been in this situation before. InGame 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, the Thunder fell to the DubuqueFighting Saints 7-1 to fall down in the series 1-0. Dubuque came out after aone-goal deficit in the second with a different intensity and were able to takehold of the game. The Thunder fell in game 1 of the Semifinal round against theCedar Rapids RoughRiders, but battled back in the series and eventually winningit in five games. Game 2 will take place on Tuesday night, again from MystiqueIce Center.

Steven Merl (University of Michigan) turned in the first goal of the game less thanthree minutes into the night. LoganLambdin (Michigan State University) tried a shot off the pad of Hunter Miska (University ofMinnesota-Duluth). The rebound came to the corner for Merl who shot it fromthe goal line to give Bloomington an early lead over the Fighting Saints.

Miska made a huge save on a Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University)who had a chance in the final minute of the period to put the Thunder up bytwo. The Thunder captain caught a pass from Blake Gober (Penn State University) on a 2-on-1, but was denied onthe chance. It was one of Miska's 18 saves in the win.

After an exceptional firstperiod, the Fighting Saints turned a 180 on the game in the second. It was goodstick positioning that put Dubuque ahead of the Thunder with three shotsdeflected as part of a four-goal period. The charge was opened by a tip infront of the net by Dallas Gerads(Minnesota State University-Mankato) for his second of the playoffs. Lessthan two minutes later, the Saints caught a break on a puck that ricochet intothe net off a defender for Keegan Ford's(Michigan Tech University) second goal of the post season.

Michael O'Leary (University of Notre Dame) battled his way to the front to extend thelead on a redirected pass. He then earned a helped on a Petter Makitalo goal, which switched goaltender's Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan)and Logan Halladay (Merrimack College)in the game. Lavigne posted a strong first period with 11 saves and addedanother six during the second period. Dubuque's misdirection on pucks ultimatelygave them the pressure to hold on in the second period. Halladay finished thenight with 14 saves in relief.

Penalties in the game wereheld at just one per side in the first two periods but the tension rolled overinto the third and the boxes were used more frequently. Penalty time in thegame finished at 50 minutes combined in the game and the Fighting Saints went2-of-4 on the power play.

The battle ramped up as theFighting Saints scored one power play goal to open the third. Eventually thegame boiled to a head at the halfway point of the period as Slaker and Geradsdropped the gloves. In the final minutes of the period, both Willy Knierim (Miami University) andO'Leary scored to finish the night. Ford finished with a game high four points(2g, 2a).

Bloomington Thunder Defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk vs. the Dubuque Fighting Saints

United States Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2016

• Thunder Fall in Game 1 of Conference Final - Bloomington Thunder
• Jake Kielly Sets Storm Postseason Shutout Record, Blanking Waterloo in Game 1, 4-0 - Tri-City Storm
• Kielly Contains Black Hawks - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Johnson, LaDue Sign NHL Contracts - Lincoln Stars
• Tri-City Storm Western Conference Finals Preview: Goaltenders - Tri-City Storm

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