Miners extend win streak with win over the Thunder.

Miners extend win streak with win over the Thunder.

CANADIAN PRESS (Niagara Falls, ON)

The Sudbury Miners were not good guests last night in Niagara Falls.  

It was this night that the Thunder chose to honour former captain Keith Primeau, a very popular player during his time in Niagara Falls. However, the Miners would spoil the celebration skating to a 4-1 victory on Sunday night.  

With the win, the Miners tied their season-long win streak at three games set earlier in the year.

“This year, it seems that sometimes we haven’t been rewarded for our play, but I thought this was one of our better games in the last few and a step in the right direction. We still have to improve but it’s nice to be on a little roll in the right direction” stated Miners winger Tobias Reider.

Reider had a pair of goals and Radim Vrbata picked up three points in the victory.  Vincent Trocheck had the other goal for the Miners.  The Miners were outshot 34-19 in the game but Jake Allen was against solid in the Miners goal and made 33 saves to get the win.

The Miners were 1 for 3 on power plays, and the Thunder were 0 for 3.   Newly acquired Thunder goaltender Roberto Luongo made 15 saves in his Thunder debut.

With this current win streak, the Miners are feeling good about themselves, something that has been lacking for most of the year.

“Confidence is a funny thing," said Vrbata, who scored his 15th goal in the game. "When things are going great, you feel like you can beat anybody, but I think it's times like these that build the character of a group for the long term."

The Miners will go for their fourth win in a row on Monday night, as the Halifax Hammerheads pay a visit to the Nickel City.  Game time at the Vale Centre is 9:00pm

MINERS NUGGETS

- Winger Anthony Ducliar suffered an undisclosed injury early in the game on Sunday night.  Initial reports is that it is serious and he should be out of the line-up for the next 25 days.

- With Duclair’s injury, winger Tom Wilson will check into the line-up on Monday night versus Halifax.

- During pre-game warmups tonight, the Miners will wear lavender jerseys as part the Hockey Fights Cancer campaign.  Each jersey will be autographed and auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.