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Thunder Score 5, Keep Hot Streak Going

March 4, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Jim Cornelison Sings the National Anthem at the Bloomington Thunder Game
Jim Cornelison Sings the National Anthem at the Bloomington Thunder Game
(Bloomington Thunder)

BLOOMINGTON,Illinois - The Bloomington Thunder brought out their inner ChicagoBlackhawks over their last two games and finished their Friday night battlewith a 5-1 win over the United States National Team Development ProgramUnder-18 team. In front of a record setting crowd, the Thunder tallied for fourgoals in the second period and never relinquished the lead. The Thunder (28-17-3-1)kept pace with both the Green Bay Gamblers and the Youngtown Phantoms forfourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Thunder are on a four game winstreak and have scored 15 goals in two games.

The environment and anticipation for the second annualChicago Blackhawks Night reached it's peak near puck drop. All 3,886 fans inattendance were on their feet to emulate the Blackhawks famed national anthempresentation as Jim Cornelison gracedthe Thunder sound system with the Star Spangled Banner. 2013 Stanley CupChampion Jamal Mayers continued the partyfor the record setting Thunder crowd by dropping the puck and finally endingwith the faceoff between the Thunder and Team USA.

The first goal came from Bloomington who took the lead andnever looked back. Channeling their scoring prowess they netted four in thesecond period, starting with MitchellChaffee. As the puck rest in the crease, Chaffee found the rebound andbatted it into the net for his fifth of the year. The crowd rose to their feetbefore the referee signaled the goal, but it wouldn't matter as the Thundertook a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the second.

Following Chaffee was WyattKalynuk (Western Michigan University) with an absolute bomb from the blueline. The second year defenseman saw the loose puck, took two strides to it,and fired it to the back of the net to take a 2-0 lead before the halfway pointof the game. Kalynuk's second of the year was the game winner, but wasn't theend of the scoring for the Thunder.

The top two point scorers for Bloomington continued toproduce with a combined seven points on the night. Logan Lambdin (Michigan State University) and Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin) fed Blake Gober for his second goal in as many games with nine minutesleft in the period. The one timer on the power play was Gober's 10thgoal of the season. Lambdin then tallied on the power play with just over aminute to play in the second. The Michigan State commit tucked in his ownrebound to take a 4-0 lead to the break.

Baker's playmaker attitude gave him four assists on thenight to take him to 44 points (19g, 25a) this season. The number one star ofthe game and Jeremy Davies (NortheasternUniversity) connected on the final Thunder goal to Lambdin. Davies secondassist of the game gave Lambdin a shot at the net and he batted in his secondgoal of the night, 23rd of the season. The Thunder ended the night3-for-7 on the power play. Over their last two games Bloomington is 9-for-15 onthe man advantage.

A scoreless first period was a physical battle and a bit ofa goaltender's duel. The USHL's reigning CCM Goaltender of the Week, Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) cameup with a couple big saves on redirected pucks and matched Joseph Woll (Boston College) with eight saves in the first. Down aman for two occasions, the Thunder penalty kill kept goals of the board withblocked shots and great defensive presence during the middle of the period.

Team USA earned their lone goal on the power play in the thirdfrom Trent Frederic (Univeristy ofWisconsin). Frederic's goal came with less than eight minutes to play, butwas too little too late.

Lavigne ended the night with 21 saves in the game and hisfourth straight win. Woll suffered his third loss of the season despite 22saves. The Thunder goaltender has 21 wins this season and is the third-leadinggoaltender in wins this season.




Images from this story

Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal vs. Team USA
Bloomington Thunder Celebrate a Goal vs. Team USA
 Jim Cornelison Sings the National Anthem at the Bloomington Thunder Game
Jim Cornelison Sings the National Anthem at the Bloomington Thunder Game
  



United States Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2016


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