Junior hockey: Michael Lynch leads Islanders HC past Twin City

AUBURN — Michael Lynch led the Islanders Hockey Club past the Twin City Thunder on Saturday at Norway Savings Bank Arena.

The forward scored a hat trick to help the Islanders earn a 5-0 USPHL NCDC victory over the Thunder.

It is the Islanders first hat trick this season.

“I wouldn’t have done it without those guys,” Lynch said of his teammates. “It’s a cliche answer, but it’s true. The support from all those guys, as a new guy and feeling welcomed, it’s awesome to do that.”

Lynch joined the team a month ago after starting the season with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League.

Islanders goalie Frank Murphy turned aside 30 shots to earn a shutout.

Braxton Powers got the Islanders (14-2-4, 32 points) on the board early when he parked himself in front of the net and fired the puck past Thunder goalie Jeffrey Keidler.

“We made some errors in the (defensive zone),” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “The first goal, we had full control of the puck and we didn’t make the play, and it ended up in the back of the net eventually.”

Islanders HC kept the pressure on throughout the first eight minutes of the period.

The Thunder (5-10-2, 12 points) started to get shots on goal in the middle of the first but couldn’t get anything past Murphy.

Daniel Woodford put the Islanders up 2-0 late in the opening frame.

“The fact we got two goals in the first and two goals in the second, we were disciplined,” Islanders coach Tim Kyrkostas coach said. “We had a very good 60-minute effort against a good team who play hard in this rink.”

Lynch scored his first goal of the game when he picked up a loose puck in front of the crease and fired it home for a 3-0 advantage in the middle of the second period.

Lynch ended Keidler’s (21 saves) night in the Thunder’s goal when he skated in on a breakaway and his wrist shot found the back of the net. Powers made the initial pass before the goal.

“It was a great play by Braxton and (Joseph) Samango on the back check,” Lynch said. “I just got lucky I got on the ice after we killed that penalty. I just beat the goalie.”

Ludwig Svensson (16 saves) relieved Keidler in goal for Twin City.

The goalie change was an attempt to change momentum.

“Keidler is playing well; he’s played well since he’s been here,” Hodge said. “Svensson hasn’t played since October, early in the season. I wanted to give him some time. He played really well.”

The Islanders’ final goal came early in the third period when Samango made a cross-ice pass to Lynch, who ripped a shot past Svensson for a 5-0 lead.

“The third goal was a highlight reel goal; Joey Samango made a hell of a pass,” Kyrkostas said. “It was a great goal.”

The Thunder aren’t back in action until Dec. 1 when the Northern Cyclones visit for a 2:30 p.m. faceoff at Norway Savings Bank Arena.

“If there’s ever a group of players that need a time to reset, this is a perfect time,” Hodge said. “Go home, enjoy their family, come back with the attitude of we need to turn this thing around before Christmas. I think we will; I think we have the right guys.”