Thunder Stay Alive with 1st Win over Havoc
March 14, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Thunder kept their playoff hopes alive with their first win of the season over the Huntsville Havoc, 4-2 on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The Thunder lit the lamp first just 4:56 into the game on a power play goal by Brandon Hew on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle assisted by Curtis Megginson and Nic Polaski. The Havoc evened the game with a power play goal with 3:06 showing on the first period clock when Ray Ortiz beat Thunder goalie B.J. O'Brien on the glove side with a running drive down the slot to set the first intermission score at 1-1.
The Thunder took a 2-1 lead with just 1:23 remaining in the second period when Mike Henderson hit a wrister from the left circle for his fourth goal of the season and third against the Havoc.
Bobby Watson gave the Thunder a 3-1 advantage with a weaving breakaway goal assisted by Travis Granbois and Tyler Noseworthy after only 1:52 ticked off the third period clock. The Havoc countered with a power play goal with 16:04 remaining in regulation on a high slot shot by Nick Lazorko deflected in by Ortiz to cut the Thunder lead to 3-2, but Bloomington got the score back to a two-goal advantage in similar fashion just 1:12 later on a Kyle Watson redirect of a Brad Barber drive from the high slot.
O'Brien earned the win with 39 saves while Jesse Kallechy took the loss with 29 stops. The Havoc were 2-for-3 on power plays while the Thunder converted one of their two advantages.
The Thunder elimination number is now one point after the Mississippi Surge defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 5-1, meaning any Surge point will clinch the final playoff spot.
The Thunder continue the weekend set with the Havoc on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. as part of a St. Patrick's Day celebration with special jerseys worn by the Thunder and auctioned immediately after the game. Thunder caps will be given away courtesy of Carpets Plus Color Tile, and kids 12 and under also eat free (hot dogs, corn dogs, popcorn, nachos and fries) until the first Thunder goal courtesy of SERVPRO. The weekend concludes with a 3:05 p.m. Sunday face-off against the Havoc on Kids Day featuring tickets for those 12 and under for only $5 and kids meals for $3, plus a post-game skate for all ages with the team. Visit the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office for single-game and individual tickets, and for group discounts and more information, call the Thunder office at 309-434-2980 or visit www.bloomingtonthunder.com, Facebook and Twitter (BLMThunder).
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