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Thunder Roll to Seventh Straight

March 11, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal
Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal
(Bloomington Thunder)

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) and Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University) ended up as a big part of the Bloomington Thunder's 4-0 shutout win over the Youngstown Phantoms, extending the team's win streak to seven on Friday night. The Thunder took the season series with the win, going 4-3-1-0 and winning the final four games against the Phantoms handedly. Slaker scored his second straight multi-point game and totaled four points over the weekend scoring twice in the game. The Thunder goaltender Lavigne made 26 saves for his fifth career shutout and fourth of this season.

Bloomington (31-17-3-1) now holds a commanding nine point lead over Youngstown (24-18-4-5) in the Eastern Conference standings. Racing toward the Clark Cup Playoffs, the Thunder have just eight games left in their regular season, while the Phantoms have nine to play. For the moment, the Thunder are tied with both the Green Bay Gamblers and the Dubuque Fighting Saints for second in the conference.

For the second straight night, Slaker began the scoring charge for the Bloomington Thunder. On the only power play of the first period, Wyatt Kalynuk (Western Michigan University) connected with a long pass down the ice and Slaker fired a long shot from the top of the circle. The hard shot from the captain worked into the net just inside of the left post. Bloomington was 1-for-3 on the power play in the game.

Logan Lambdin (Michigan State University) continued to put points on the board with his 24th goal of the season a little over a minute into the second. The two leading scorers connected on the play when Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) wrapped the puck around the net. Playing the ricochet was the second year forward to put it past Colin DeAugustine and take a 2-0 lead. The Phantoms netminder suffered his second straight loss, making 27 saves on the night.

Blocking shots was a theme for the Thunder who were again 4-of-4 on the penalty kill. The team combined for a plethora of stopped chances throughout the night. Lambdin came up with a few critical blocks on the kill, along with defenseman Butrus Ghafari (Western Michigan University), and Jake Durflinger came up with a timely stop in the third.

Lavigne was credited with 26 saves in the game stopping a game high 11 in the third period. It was the greatest number of saves Lavigne has made in his career shutout performances and the goaltender has now allowed just six goals in his last seven games. That seven game streak includes two shutouts and over 150 saves.

Slaker capped off his night with a breakaway move on an unassisted tally a little less than four minutes into the third period. Then adding one more two minutes later was rookie Vlad Dzhioshvili (Cornell University) on a 2-on-1. After a poke check from center ice, the Russian forward fired a shot to the back of the net on the right wing, while Mitchell Chaffee looked on from the left side. It was Dzhioshvili's fifth of the season to put the finishing touches on the game.

BOX SCORE: http://bit.ly/1LXTTaB

The Thunder have a week break before they head to Dubuque to battle the Fighting Saints on Thursday night. It opens a three game weekend for the Thunder as they take on the second place Saints for the third time this season. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. from the Mystique Ice Center.

NEXT HOME GAME: Friday, March 18th - 7 p.m. - Rivalry night is Friday to spark the local schools and show their spirit for a night of fun. Tickets are on sale with the Thunder for discounted rates of $10 and $5 youth prices when you call ahead to the Thunder office. Also available at the game will be $1 drafts and soda from 6-7 p.m. The winning school with the most participants will receive a free jersey from the Thunder, signed by the team. Call the (309) 434-2980 for information about the ticket discounts and for purchase.




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Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal
Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal
   



United States Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2016


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