The Albert Lea Thunder fell 6-2 to the Alexandria Blizzard despite outshooting the Blizzard 38-34 in the game and 28-17 in the first two periods.

Alexandria (7-3-1) used the power play to its advantage as the Blizzard converted on three of its six opportunities, two came in the first period alone.

The Thunder (0-8-1) trailed just 3-0 entering the third period, but Alexandria scored two goals in the first two minutes of the period to take a 5-0 lead.

Albert Lea would get on the board at the 4:44 mark when Mitch Torrel scored an unassisted goal. Jerry Freismuth made the game 6-1 as he continued to cause fits for the Thunder defense.

Josh Botimer scored his first goal of the season at the 12:24 mark in the third.

Albert Lea controlled play for stretches throughout the game, but penalties were the difference.

The Blizzard scored the first goal of the game on a 5-on-3 powerplay and scored a second goal at the 19:24 mark on a power play after Danny Wood was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The second period was marred with fights as three fights took place. Just nine seconds into the period Daniel Barnes of the Thunder and Josh Munford dropped the gloves. Six minutes later Ian Braun decided to take on 6-foot-7 inch Taylor Vichorek of the Blizzard. The fight did not last long as Braun came away with a big gash above his left eye.

One minute and 13 seconds later Barnes was involved in another fight that resulted in his ejection.

Albert Lea displayed an improved offense that generated a number of quality scoring opportunities through the first two periods, but failed to cash in.

Thunder head coach Brad Zangs said that the team must capitalize on those opportunities.

The last time the two teams met at the City Arena Albert Lea suffered a 8-2 loss where the team gave up five second period goals. Garrett Grimstad and Noah Nemgar each had two goals in that game and Freismuth assisted on the first four goals for the Blizzard.

The loss was a setback for the Thunder after the team appeared to have taken a step forward in a 5-4 loss last Saturday to North Iowa.