It has become abundantly clear that the Thunder cannot continue to rely on Danny Wood and Mitch Torrel for the majority of its scoring as teams have started key in on those two lately.

Wood and Torrel lead the team in points. Wood leads with 23 and Torrel has 19.

The positive for Albert Lea (2-27-4) is that others on the team have started to emerge as scoring threats in the past two games.

While Wood and Torrel have combined for one point in the past two games, the other lines have increased their production. The Thunder has scored eight goals in the past two games and the scoring has been spread among the different lines.

After having just seven points through the first 33 games, Nikita Feoktistov has six points in his last five games. Add Niko Kapetanovic, who has three in his last five games, B.J. McClellan four points in his last five games, Chris Cass two goals in the last two games, and Tom Glomski who has two points in the last two games and it appears Albert Lea has started to find a way to score with Wood and Torrel neutralized.

“We’ve got some good line combinations going right now,” Cass said. “The main point is that a lot of the guys that are scoring right now are the younger guys that are just starting to get the hang of this level. They’re starting to realize their role on the team and what they need to do to score.”

Thunder head coach Brad Zangs concurred that much of the increased production has come from younger players maturing.

“What it is, is a lot of the boys are maturing and they’re stepping up and doing what I needed them to do back in October and the early months,” Zangs said.

Nine different players recorded a point Saturday in a 6-5 overtime loss to Owatonna.

“Every line contributed against Owatonna,” Zangs said. “That’s what we need to be successful. Every line has to start contributing. If we get that we’ll be fine.”

The Thunder will get another crack at the Express Friday in Owatonna and Zangs expects Owatonna to come out blazing.

“Come Friday Pat Cullen is going to have his kids playing harder than hell,” Zangs said. “These boys are going to have to come out even hungrier.”

Owatonna is in fourth place in the Central Division with 33 points, four points behind Bismarck and eight points behind division-leader North Iowa. The Express is 4-6 in its past 10 games. Albert Lea and Owatonna will meet next Friday at the City Arena as well.

Owatonna is led by Stephen Carew who has 31 points this season, Tony McDonald (6 G, 21 A), and Cory Thorson (15 G, 11 A). Carew scored the game-winner in overtime for a 6-5 victory last Saturday.

The Thunder had a 3-1 lead after the first period and held a 4-2 lead entering the third period, but watched as the Express came back to tie the game with a shorthanded goal with 2:15 left to play.

“We just collapsed in the third period, but we got a point,” Zangs said. “That’s a huge plus.”

The two teams have played four one-goal games this season.

“I think it’s become a little bit of a rivalry,” Cass said. “We’ve played each team in our division numerous times now so we know the guys on each team well enough. We know that who can score. Everyone is getting a lot more comfortable with the teams.”

Albert Lea was dealt a blow this week when the team learned that forward/defenseman Mark Ellis is out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury that requires surgery. That leaves the team with five defensemen, but Zangs said is pursuing defensemen to make up for the injury and the loss of Robbie Vannelli and Jeff Lesmeister.