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Thunder Win Shootout Thriller

March 19, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release


Jake Slaker of the Bloomington Thunder
Jake Slaker of the Bloomington Thunder
(Bloomington Thunder)

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - As if the Bloomington Thunder's three gameweekend wasn't long enough, their final game against the Lincoln Stars foundits way to overtime and then the shootout. The captain Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University) ended it again for theThunder in the skills competition to seal a 3-2 win over the Stars. With a two game win streak, Bloomington(33-18-3-1) is one point out of third place in the Eastern Conference with 70points. The Stars (31-21-1-1) suffered their first shootout loss of the seasonand are three points off the Tri-City Storm for first in the West.

Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) was a big factor in the Thunder's overtime extensionand into the shootout. The third year goaltender made three saves including abreakaway stop between his pads to move it into the shootout. Then he stoppedtwo shooters to take home his 25th win of the season. Lavigne made 21saves in the game and has won eight of his last nine starts.

In the shootout, both Slakerand Tarek Baker (University ofWisconsin) netted back-to-back goals on Lincoln goaltender Peyton Jones (Penn State University).The two second-year forwards combined with Lavigne's saves ended the gamebefore the third round. Bloomington is now 9-1-0-0 in their last ten games.

After a scoreless firstperiod, the Thunder and Stars battle for the second. When it seemed like thepower play would fall in the second period, Patrick Curry scored the Thunder's first goal three minutes in. Currygot a pass from behind the net from JeremyDavies (Northeastern University), one of his two points on the night, andlet his shot go from the slot to make it 1-0. The Thunder forward now has 10points in his last seven games for the Clark Cup Playoff hopefuls.

The Stars would tie the gamelater in the period on Will D'Orsi's(Yale University) goal from the crease. It was one of two goals D'Orsiscored in the game to bring the Stars to a tie.

Under a minute later, theThunder answered from a combination of Davies, Mitchell Chaffee and SeanHarrison (Union College). The top scoring defenseman in the league held theblue line and tossed the puck down to Chaffee. The rookie then took the puckright to the front of the net and his shot came right to Harrison's stick. TheUnion College commit, fired the puck to the back of the net with a little morethan four minutes left to play in the second. Harrison has six goals during hisfirst USHL campaign.

D'Orsi's goal a minute intothe third gave the Stars a tie game for the remainder of regulation. The Thunderwon the special team's battle as well going 1-for-4 on the power play and3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Jones would eventually suffer the shootout lossfor the Stars with 23 saves in the game.

Following the game, Thunderraised $6,350 from a jersey auction with proceeds going back to the NationalWild Turkey Federation.




Images from this story

Bloomington Thunder Test the Lincoln Stars
Bloomington Thunder Test the Lincoln Stars
 Jake Slaker of the Bloomington Thunder
Jake Slaker of the Bloomington Thunder
  



United States Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2016


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