AUBURN — The message to the Twin City Thunder throughout the game against the Northern Cyclones was to get to the net.
It took until the third period, but the Thunder did that on their way to defeating the Cyclones 3-2 in a shootout in a USPHL NCDC game at Norway Savings Bank Arena on Friday afternoon.
Twin City (14-14-2, 30 points) sits fifth in the North Division while the Cyclones (18-8-3, 39 points), of Hudson, New Hampshire, remain the division leader.
“It was definitely a fun one today because we stuck with it,” Thunder associate head coach Cam Robichaud said. “Obviously, being down two going into the third period and coming on top with two points is a good feeling. In the first period, I thought we played well — we outshot them. There were a lot of perimeter shots and some rebounds but we weren’t getting to those rebounds. Having a net-front presence and crashing the net hard was the message between periods.”
Thunder head coach Dan Hodge had a prior commitment and wasn’t at the game Friday.
Twin City started to make its comeback just past the two-minute make of the third stanza when forward Nolan Leonard skated toward the crease. Cyclones goalie Colin Ronan (42 saves) made the initial save on Leonard but couldn’t stop Trace Norwell’s shot. Kadsen Johnson also recorded an assist on the goal.
Midway through the third, the Thunder scored on their second power play of the game when forward James Tatro drove to the net and deked Ronan to tie the game. Cullen McCormick and Leonard notched the assists.
Robichaud was glad Tatro went to the crease.
“It’s about getting to the paint and not just going to the net to go to the net, but going to the net with the mission of finding the puck,” Robichaud said. “There’s a difference of aimlessly skating to the net and tracking the puck, putting yourself in a position to then, as you meet the puck, to get a shot off.”
After a scoreless overtime session, the game went to a shootout. Both goalies were outstanding. Trey Miller of the Thunder stopped all four shooters he faced while Ronan stonewalled the first three Thunder shooters.
Miller, who made 30 saves in the game, said he had to be extra sharp in the shootout in the duel with Ronan.
“They shot first and I knew every time I saved it, it gave my team a chance to win with the last shot,” Miller said. “I was focused on keeping them scoreless the first three shots and I knew we’d put one in.”
Lewiston native Dom Chasse ended the game in the fourth round when he flipped the puck over Ronan’s shoulder and it just snuck under the crossbar and into the net.
“He’s a big, blocking-style goalie and he’s just going to be big and block it,” Chasse said. “If you get him moving and shoot the opposite way, there’s a likely chance that it will go in and that’s what I did.”
The Cyclones took a 2-0 lead in a 22-second span midway through the second period. Marko Giourof scored on the team’s first power play with a wrist shot from the slot 8 minutes, 2 seconds into the stanza.
The Cyclones were 1 for 3 with the man-advantage; the Thunder were 1 for 2.
Moments after Giourof’s goal, Gavin Bloder corralled a loose rebound from a Chance Uzzell shot and swept the puck past Miller, extending the lead to 2-0.
Miller said he had faith in his teammates to mount a comeback attempt.
“It can rattle you a bit, but I didn’t let it,” Miller said. “I knew my team would come back and fight hard. I stayed calm and kept playing my game and stayed focused. After that second goal, I knew we’d have a big pushback and stay with it.”
THUNDER ADD UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN COMMIT
Last week, the Thunder made a trade with the New Jersey Hitmen, which brought defenseman Reed Kluender to Auburn.
The 18-year-old has committed to the University of Wisconsin, which plays in the Big Ten. In 10 games with the Hitmen, Kluender tallied a single assist. He started the season with the Janesville Jets of the North American Hockey League and only played two games.
Kluender hasn’t suited up for the Thunder, as he’s currently out due to an illness.
The Thunder sent Ty Walker to Jersey. The 17-year-old forward recorded a goal and four assists in 19 games with the Thunder this season.
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