By WJBC Staff
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A late charge by the Bloomington Thunder was not large enough to overcome an early lead as the team fell 7-3 in the first game of their Eastern Conference Semifinal. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders proved why they were the Anderson Cup Champions as they tallied for six in the opening two periods. Bloomington rebounded in the third to score three and build momentum for game two but it was not enough for a comeback over the Riders. Bloomington is down 1-0 in the series with game two to come Saturday night at the same time from the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.
Logan Lambdin (Michigan State University) led the Thunder in goals during the regular season and scored his first post-season goal just under two minutes into the final period. A low angle shot from the corner beat the RoughRiders goaltender just inside the post to put the team on the board.
After the Riders answered a few minutes later, the Thunder came back to score on the power play. Patrick Curry (Boston University) netted his first goal of the playoffs, tucking it around the crease and into the net. Jake Slaker (St, Lawrence University) picked up and assist on the play as the Thunder cut the game to 7-2.
With less than two minutes remaining, Bloomington put a cap on their three goal period with a back door jam from Tarek Baker (University of Wisconsin). Jeremy Davies (Northeastern University) rifled a pass across the ice to Baker, waiting on the side of the net, for a one timer.
The teams were evenly matched through 10 minutes of hockey to start the game, but two quick chances separated by 35 seconds meant the difference between a 0-0 game and a 2-0 lead after the first. Flying into the zone was Matt Filipe (Northeastern University) on the right circle to find a quick pass and fire it to the back of the net. The RoughRider forward worked it to the back of the net just inside the post to take the 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the period. Then John Snoodgrass (Colgate College) was fed a pass in front by Luke Morgan (Lake Superior State University) of the net for a battle that worked into the net.
The RoughRiders held the Thunder off the power play until the third period but earned chances of their own. Bloomington would end the night stopping all but one of their eight chances. The number one ranked Thunder power play from the regular season was 2-for-3 in the game despite the RoughRiders top ranked penalty kill from the regular season.
The second period surge saw goals from Morgan, Pavel Tkachkov, Jacob Hayhurst (RPI), and Cal Burke (University of Notre Dame). The Thunder made a goaltending switch in the middle of the second period after Hayden Lavigne (University of Michigan) had already seen 22 shots in just 27 minutes of play. Logan Halladay (Merrimack College) finished the game with 11 saves for the Thunder.
Ben Blacker (Western Michigan University) was officially awarded 27 saves on 30 shots in the game as the Thunder peppered him with a game high 15 in the third.
Bloomington will be back to face the RoughRiders for Game 2 from the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on Saturday night 7:05 p.m. The Thunder will look to rebound in the second game of their best-of-five series.
