With their captain in dry-dock, the rest of the Borderland Thunder crew rallied together to keep their unbeaten streak afloat.
Matt Alexander scored twice in the third period, including the game-winner, and Tyler Krozka added another pair to lift the Thunder to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Northwest Wisconsin Knights on Saturday night at the Ice for Kids Arena.
“It feels good to beat your old team,” grinned Alexander, who played for Knights coach Eric Ballard when both were with the Iron Range Yellow Jackets last year, along with many of the current Knights players.
“I didn’t have one of my better games [Friday] night [a 5-3 win by the Thunder], so it felt great to make up for it tonight,” he added.
The defenceman gave the Thunder (4-0-2) a 4-2 lead at 3:47 of the third period, blowing a shot past the glove of Knights goalie Larry Kozial.
Then at 17:49, Alexander’s wrist shot caromed off Kozial’s left pad and in for what proved a crucial tally after Chris Kaelin’s second of the game with six seconds to go pulled the Knights back to within one.
Matt Johnson added a goal and two assists for the Thunder, who played without captain Josh Baxter, who sat out after injuring his knee in Friday night’s game.
Brian McLean and Jake Smith also scored for the Knights on Saturday.
Meanwhile, two power-play goals and a short-handed marker fuelled the Thunder’s attack in Friday night’s win, which also featured the successful debut of Manitoba product Jamie Munroe between the pipes.
A late-week roster addition, Munroe made 27 saves for the win.
Kevin Webb fired a goal and two assists for the Thunder, who also got tallies from Krozka, Kyle Prystupa, newcomer Rob Scales, and Chad Baldwin.
Jason Lanemann had a pair to lead the Knights, with Jordan Wolfenberg adding the other.
The Thunder next head to Nipigon to face the Feathermen Hawks this Saturday and Sunday, before returning to the Ice for Kids Arena for a two-game set with the Thunder Bay KC Bulldogs on Oct. 18-19.
