Thunder Score Four Straight to Topple FireAntz in OT
February 16, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Thunder charged back from a 4-1 deficit with four straight goals to earn a 5-4 overtime win over the Fayetteville FireAntz on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The FireAntz lit the lamp first only 1:14 into the game on a wrist shot from the left point by Corey Toy. Another Toy goal with 13:31 remaining in the first period resulted in Thunder goalie Breton Lindoff being pulled for B.J. O'Brien. The Thunder quickly tallied when Bobby Watson cleaned up his own rebound from the back wall and skated to the left circle to score a wrister assisted by Kyle Watson and Peter Cintala. The FireAntz pushed their lead back to a pair of goals when John Clewlow slid the puck through traffic inside the right post with 7:01 left in the opening frame to give the guests a 3-1 advantage.
Fayetteville increased the lead to 4-1 when Matt Ridley converted a back door feed shortly after a 5-on-3 FireAntz power play expired with 15:22 showing in the second period.
The Thunder cut the deficit to 4-2 on a power play goal when Curtis Megginson shoved in a shot from Bobby Watson with the second assist given to Paul Arnott with 12:26 left in regulation, then Paul D'Agostino connected on the run for a shorthanded goal with 9:58 remaining to cut the FireAntz lead to 4-3. The Thunder forced overtime with Bobby Watson's rebound goal of a Tyler Noseworthy shot also assisted by Travis Granbois with just 55 seconds remaining in regulation just after O'Brien was pulled for an extra attacker. The game-winner found the net at 2:36 of overtime as Peter Cintala crashed the net at the left post assisted by Granbois.
O'Brien earned the win with 27 saves while Dustin Carlson took the overtime loss with 35 stops. The Thunder killed all five FireAntz power plays and were 1-for-3 on their own man advantages.
The win puts the Thunder even with the FireAntz for ninth place in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings. The Thunder win was the first of the season in 22 games in which they trailed at the second intermission.
The Thunder return to action this Sunday at 3:05 p.m. and Monday and Tuesday at 7:05 both nights against the Knoxville Ice Bears. Group discounts are available by calling 309-434-2980 while individual and game day tickets are available at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office or by calling 309-434-2679. More information on the Thunder is available at www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder).
Junior Blaze fall: The Bloomington Junior Blaze dropped a 5-1 decision to the Alpena Street Cats in Midwest Junior Hockey League play on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Dylan Farmer scored the lone goal for the Blaze in their final home game of the season. The Street Cats (21-14-0) clinched the final MWJHL post-season spot with the victory and eliminated the Junior Blaze (13-22-1) from playoff contention with six games remaining. The Junior Blaze visit Farmington Hills, Michigan in suburban Detroit next weekend for three games against the Michigan Ice Dogs.
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SPHL Stories from February 16, 2014
- IceGators Squeak by Pensacola in Shootout - Louisiana IceGators
- Rank Earns Second Straight Shutout in 3-0 Win - Peoria Rivermen
- RiverKings Fall in Road Trip Finale - Mississippi RiverKings
- Thunder Score Four Straight to Topple FireAntz in OT - Bloomington Thunder
- Surge Drop Two on Weekend Road Trip - Mississippi Surge
- Ice Bears Electrify Crowd with 2-1 Win - Knoxville Ice Bears
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