Thunder Power Play Nets Two in OT Loss

January 24, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - One bounce cost the Bloomington Thunder a win and a point after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday night. The game was tied all through the third period at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in front of nearly 2700 fans as the Thunder (20-12-2-1) held the lead twice in the game. The Phantoms (18-11-3-5) take in their second straight win and have tied the Thunder in the Eastern Conference with 44 points.

The power play gave the Thunder their first chance and the team cashed in for the second straight night. Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) netted his eighth of the season on a backhanded goal. The pass came across from Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) and Wyatt Kalynuk (Western Michigan University) to give the Thunder their third power play goal of the weekend. Bloomington's work on the man advantage extended Baker and Davies point streaks to nine and eight games.

The two are now the top two scorers for the Thunder. Baker has 15 points (10g, 5a) in his last nine games for 29 this season as the team leader. Davies continued to be dominant from the blue line, tying the top defenseman in the USHL for goals scored with eight this year. Davies took home two points on the night after the second period power play tally for the Thunder.

Logan Lambdin was the recipient of a great set up play by the Montreal, QC native and scored his 14th of the season for the Thunder. The pass came to the Carleton, MI native right in the slot for the easy tap in as the team was 2-for-4 on the power play. Baker also grabbed an assist on the play, his second of the night as the Thunder took a 2-1 lead less than four minutes into the second.

The highs were short lived for the Thunder as the Phantoms tallied goals to answer minutes late on both occasions. Patrick Kramer (Merrimack College) scored his fourth of the season from the goal line in the first to tie it at one. A crazy bounce off the first shot from Kevin Conley (University of Denver) found the stick of Kramer before the shot went into the net. It was a little more than three minutes after the Thunder broke the scoreless tie.

In the second, less than a minute after the Thunder's power play goal, the Phantoms tied the game on the man advantage. David Cotton fired his shot from the high slot and it bounced off a defender's stick before beating Logan Halladay on the redirected shot.

The Thunder goaltender from Cary, NC made a flurry of saves in the final moments of the third period and overtime to give the team a shot. Overall, he stopped 18 in the overtime loss. Colin DeAugustine stopped 30 shots on net in the game for the win as the Thunder out shot the Phantoms 32-21.

The final goal came on another strange play as Cameron Morrison (University of Notre Dame) moved into the high slot. Halladay initially stopped his shot, but the clearing attempt hit a skate and popped high into the air. It eventually caught the goaltender and the Thunder off guard as it fell behind Halladay and over the goal line with just over 20 minutes to play.

The Thunder will head to Omaha, NE for the first time to face the Lancers in hopes of getting back to their winning ways. The Friday and Saturday night 7 p.m. games will be the first meetings between the out of conference opponents this season.

Bloomington Thundera Hold off the Youngstown Phantoms Charge (Niki D Photography)

Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal vs. the Youngstown Phantoms (Tyler Mardis)

Bloomington Thunder vs. the Youngstown Phantoms (Tyler Mardis)

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2016

• Thunder Power Play Nets Two in OT Loss - Bloomington Thunder

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