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Thunder Spoils Gamblers' Opener

September 27, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


GREEN BAY,Wisconsin - The Bloomington Thunder scored threegoals over the second and third periods to take a 4-3 win over the Green BayGamblers who surged late in the game. A goal to start the third helped theThunder late in the game and earned them their first win of the year.

Some insurance was eventually needed in the third period. Vlad Dzhioshvili (Cornell University)picked up the eventual game-winning goal in route to a team high 3-point (1g,2a) night.

"It was a good road win. Itwasn't pretty, but we scored on our opportunities. Hayden played great in netfor us. It's always tough to get that first win of the year," said Head Coachand General Manager Dennis Wiliams. "It leaves us with a good feeling and goodending to a positive weekend."

An early ejection for Pat Curry resulted in a chance for theGamblers on a four-minute power play and SamSaliba (Michigan State University) capitalized on the chance. The goal came6:51 into the first period on the power play as Joey Marooney fed him on a one timer.

The Thunder were able to kill off the rest of the penaltyand tie the game on a rebound goal at less than five minutes to theintermission. Blake Gober was infront of the crease to take the rebound and knock in his first of the season. Tarek Baker (University of Minnesota)took an assist on the goal with his shot from the point, also his first pointof the season.

"(A comeback win) is a doubleedged sword. I love it, but I wish we were up from the start," commentedWilliams who's team was down twice in the game, but responded. "We have aresilient group and they worked hard. It's not easy to play last night in frontof a great crowd, have a disappointing loss, and then travel all day to play avery good Green Bay team.

"We found a way," CoachWilliams continued. We dug, we stuck together, and stuck to the game plan. Theboys did a great job."

The second period opened with a transition goal for theGamblers to retake the lead JasonDhooghe (Ohio State University) was in the right place on a rebounded shotfrom Brett Gruber (Arizona StateUniversity) to make it 2-1. Bloomington would then go on the power play6:50 of the period and the Thunder answered to tie the game again. Logan Lambdin put his first of the yearin 47 seconds into the man advantage.

After some great saves from Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan), who made 27 in the game,the Thunder took their first lead in the game. Baker fed Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) in the slot for a one timerat 11:21. The pass from behind the net was Baker's second assist of the night.

Dzhioshvili scored his goal at 6:05 of the third period. Theloose puck made its way to the Moscow, RUS native and he ripped it to the backof the net. It proved to be needed as the Gamblers pulled goaltender Adam Huska (New York Rangers) with apower play and under a minute go in the game. Marooney stuffed home a reboundin front of Lavigne to give the Gamblers a chance, but it was too little toolate as the final 10 seconds ticked off the clock to give the Thunder the win.

The Thunder were 1-3 on the power play with 16 shots on netand held the Gamblers to 1-6 on the man advantage. Green Bay turned 30 shots onnet in the loss.



United States Hockey League Stories from September 27, 2015


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