By Brian Tosti/Bloomington Thunder
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Behind a three-goal second period, the Bloomington Thunder solidified their first post-season berth on Friday night in Dubuque. With a 5-3 win over the Fighting Saints, the Thunder (34-18-3-1) have clinched the final available playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They also tied the Fighting Saints (35-17-1-1) for second in the East with 72 points, leaping over the Green Bay Gamblers who currently hold the fourth place spot in the standings.
A big second period turnaround helped the Thunder to a 4-1 lead into the break. They never looked back from the lead, taking their first win over Dubuque this season. Sean Harrison (Union College) unloaded a goal for the second straight game to begin the period. A pass across the rink from Jake Durflinger came to the Dutchman recruit who ripped the puck over the pad of Fighting Saint’s goaltender Jaxon Castor (Arizona State University). Castor’s luck didn’t fair in his second game against the Thunder, making 22 saves in the defeat.
The Thunder’s USHL/NHL Top Prospect representative made it a 3-1 game with his seventh of the season. His first shot was stopped but the fourth line of Harrison, Vlad Dzhioshvili (Cornell University), and Ethan Somoza (Bemidji State University) crashed the crease and batted the puck into the net. The Cornell commit continued to produce for the Thunder in the third with his second point of the night and 21st of his rookie season. Somoza ended the night with two helpers as their line combined for six points in the game.
The captain played hero in the Thunder’s shootout win over the Lincoln Stars one week ago and continued to score game winners. This one counted on the scoreboard as his 20th of the season and 11th power play goal of the year when the Thunder began a 5-on-3 with a minute left in the second period. 10 seconds into the man advantage, Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) took his second assist of the night on a cross-ice pass to Jake Slaker (St. Lawrence University).
In the first period Logan Halladay (Merrimack College) recorded 11 saves as the Thunder rallied from two penalty kills. The Cary, NC native ended the night with 28 saves and his ninth win this season. The momentum carried them in the second half of the period as the team took control of the game including multiple chances off turnovers from center ice.
Patrick Curry showed how hard work pays off late in a period. Curry skated through center ice and down to the right wing corner and curled back to find a trailing Steven Merl (University of Michigan). A pass found it’s way to the future Wolverine for a quick wrist shot and his second goal of the season. The goal came with 38 seconds left in the first period and put Bloomington on top 1-0 after the first period.
The Fighting Saints by no means were out of the game throughout the night tying it in the second and holding a two goal deficit to begin the third. Goals were scored by Shane Kavanagh (Providence College), Brett Boeing, and Nathan Sucese (Penn State University), but the Saints could not rally back from the second period surge.
Both teams finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Over 100 penalty minutes were dished out in the game with a slew of 10-minute misconducts coming in the third period.
The Thunder are back at home Saturday night to face the Madison Capitols at 7 p.m. It is the first meeting between the teams since a 2-0 shutout win on January 2. Bloomington is 2-0 this season against Madison and 5-1-0-0 all-time against the expansion year counterpart.
