Tight Game Halts Scoring Surge in Game 3

Published on April 22, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Bloomington Thunder News Release

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois - Game 3 was a much closer decision than thefirst two games. The Bloomington Thunder took the opening goal of the game buteventually fell 3-1 on the night to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Bloomingtonfinished the game strong, outshooting Cedar Rapids 23-12 in the final twoperiods. The series is now 2-1 in favor of the RoughRiders after the first gamefrom the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Game 4 will be right back at the U.S. CellularColiseum Sunday afternoon for the second game of the weekend.

Bloomington's power play hasbeen monstrous in the first three games of the Eastern Conference Semifinal.That monster poked it's head out in the first period to make it 1-0. Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University)was able to squeak a shot from the blue line through for his first USHL playoffgoal. He continued the trend for the Thunder who are a crazy 6-for-9 in theirfirst round matchup.

Rafferty leads all defensemenin scoring in the USHL with five points in three games while Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University)earned an assist in the game and continued his league lead with six points. Bloomington also continued on the penaltykill, stopping all three chances for the RoughRiders.

The RoughRiders broke theThunder a minute later as a shot from the blue line found it's way through. Mitch Reinke (Michigan Tech University)began his two-point night with his first playoff goal of the season to tie thegame. Hayden Lavigne (University ofMichigan) stopped 11 shots in the first period and game total of 21.

Outshooting the RoughRidersin the second period 11-to-9, the Thunder put chances onto the net of Ben Blacker (Western Michigan University).A slew of chances just missed for the Thunder and even a Mitchell Mattson (University of North Dakota) shot rang off thecrossbar. Blacker would finish the night with 28 saves and the win but also hada decent amount of shots blocked in front of him by the RoughRider defense. TheThunder spend a majority of the game in front of his crease, but could not getthe bounces to go their way.

Cal Burke (University of Notre Dame) took the game-winning goal in the period,redirecting a shot from Reinke into the net. Burke has scored in each game forthe RoughRiders and leads the team in points with four in the playoffs.

In the third, Bloomington puta game high 12 shots on net to try and tie the RoughRiders. The Thunder camedown the ice with less than two minutes into the game with the net pulled and achance to tie the game. Chances could not find their way through in the finalmoments of the game. Cedar Rapids ended the game on an empty net goal from Ross Colton (University of Vermont) whoscored his first of the series.

Bloomington Thunder vs. the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders

United States Hockey League Stories from April 22, 2016

• Tight Game Halts Scoring Surge in Game 3 - Bloomington Thunder
• Stampede's Season Ends in Game 3 Loss to Tri-City - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Storm Sweeps Sioux Falls in Game 3, 4-1, Advances to Western Conference Finals - Tri-City Storm
• Gamblers Fall in Game Three - Green Bay Gamblers
• Musketeers Sign Ranta to Tender - Sioux City Musketeers

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