By WJBC Staff
PLYMOUTH, Mich. – The Bloomington Thunder turned their game around after an early deficit and scored three straight goals in route to a 3-2 win over the United States National Team Development Program Under 17 team on Thursday night.
Bloomington (10-8-2-1) got a big hand from forward Jake Durflinger who netted two goals in the game, extending his point streak to five games. The NTDP (7-8-1-1) fall in the second straight game with the Thunder after being outshot 43-22.
Bloomington was down in the first period 1-0 on a power play goal as the 17’s controlled the rate of play to start the game. Scott Reedy put the puck in on the man advantage for his third goal of the season. The rebound came to the forward who put it home to the near side of the net.
After being outshot 5-0 to open the game, the Thunder put 16 on the net of Dylan St. Cyr during the first, with two finding their way behind the young goaltender. Jake Slater netted his fourth of the season on the power play. Logan Lambdin fed the puck to the top of the crease and the Thunder captain pushed it in with under four minutes left in the period. Then Durflinger cashed in on his first of two. The forward had the puck pushed to his stick by Lambdin and didn’t miss his chance. He put it off the back of St. Cyr with under 30 seconds to play in the period.
The second didn’t give the fans goals, but did feature shots as the Thunder moved their shot total to 30 in the game. Lambdin was moving all over the ice for the Thunder and had multiple chances including a short-handed breakaway, which was stopped by St. Cyr.
In the third period, the Thunder pressed forward, taking another 13 shots on net and grabbing another power play chance. Despite being unsuccessful on the man advantage in the third, the Thunder were 1-for-4 on the power play and managed to cash in later in the period. Ethan Somoza moved over the line down the right wing and fed Durflinger trailing on the play. The Walnut Creek, CA native netted his sixth of the season on a one timer. Durflinger now leads the team with 12 points (6g, 6a) this season.
Like their Friday night game, the 17’s would not be counted out despite a two-goal deficit. Jacob Tortora scored his second of the season on a back-door pass from Grant Mismash to make it 3-2. That was where the comeback would fall as Logan Halladay stopped a last minute opportunity for the 17’s, earning his first win of the season.
The Cary, NC native stopped 20 shots in the game for the Thunder, who are now 10-1-2-1 in one goal games this season. St. Cyr stopped a season high 40 shots on net but suffers his sixth loss of the season and still seeks his first win in the USHL.
The Thunder head back to Bloomington for their next game, a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. against the Green Bay Gamblers. It will be the third of six meetings this season between the two teams, but will be the first at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The season series is tied at 1-1-0-0.
