Team back at .500 and back ahead of the Blues after a great effort

The Pas/OCN - While the Blizzard may have received help from other teams last night, they more importantly helped themselves the best way possible and that is winning. A very workmanlike effort from the home side came at crucial time after they lost both games on the road earlier in the week. The Blizzard had plenty of energy and that too was important as this is their busiest week of game action this season.

Defenseman Shawn Crawford got the fans going early as he scored just 44 seconds into the game and the Blizzard never looked back en route to their 21st victory of the season and 3rd against the Natives. The Blizzard coaching staff mixed up some of the forward lines and that seemed pay off, at least for the new look "All 20 Year Old" line. Kory Kimpinski lead all scores with 2 but he and line mates Drew Tyschinksi and Kent Sauter combined for 6 points. Tyschinski's power player marker at 4:42 stood as the winner while Kimpinski helped chase Natives netminder Ryan Bembridge from the game at 6:17.

Blizzard goaltender Dave Aime quietly went about putting together another solid game of his own stopping 29 of 30 shots in beating his former coach Bryant Perrier. Aime gave his club a chance to win for the 3rd time this week and finally his teammates came through for him. The only blip on the radar for Aime was Wes Pawluk's 19th goal just 37 seconds into the 3rd period to spoil the shutout bid.

Thursday's game was penalty-filled thanks in part to 4 fights with Lane vs Warkentin, Cairns vs Crawford, Kirkham vs Reaney and McEwan vs Brett Suderman. Suderman arguably suffered the worst as he had to go and get his jersey switched from 24 to 4. Last time the clubs hooked up for a double-header here the 1st game was rougher than 2nd so we'll see if that trend continues tonight.

The victory allowed the Blizzard to pull within 5 points of the Natives for 4th, within 8 of Portage for 3rd but more importantly back ahead of the Blues for the crossover spot. The Natives have lost back-to-back 4-1 decisions and will be very hungry to not lose 3 in a row tonight. Neepawa still holds the season series edge at 4-3. A Blizzard win and each team would go 3-1 in their own arena.

Tonight's match-up is on CJ 1240 starting with the Murray Dunn GM Pre-Game Show at 6:40.

Thursday's 3 Stars

1-Kory Kimpinski - 2 goals
2-David Aime - 29 saves for win number 15
3-Drew Tyschinksi - game winning goal and 1 assist

Crunch Of The Game

Carl Bombardier on Tom Frasz early in the 3rd period.

Hardest Worker

J.B. Voyer who was very solid at both ends of the ice but was particularly effective in helping kill of both 5-on-3's against the Blizzard.