Trey Miller earned his second shutout of the season Wednesday.
The Twin City Thunder goalie turned aside more than two dozen shots in a 2-0 win over the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs in a USPHL NCDC game at Tri-Town Ryan Frew Memorial Rink in Hooksett, New Hampshire.
“Trey is playing really well and seeing the puck well,” Twin City Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “Our (defense) is doing a good job clearing the rebounds and he’s making the first stop. The defense is eliminating second and third opportunities, and that’s something we haven’t been doing the last little stretch here.”
Miller, who made 29 saves Wednesday, hasn’t allowed more than three goals in a game since Dec. 13.
The Thunder (17-18-3, 37 points) have knocked off the top two teams in the North Division this week. They defeated the Northern Cyclones (23-11-4, 50 points), the second-place team, 2-1 on Monday, and the Monarchs (23-13-5, 51 points) are the first-place team.
Forward Liam Hodgson, who joined the Thunder on Monday from the Rockets Hockey Club, notched his first goal with Twin City in the second period for a 1-0 lead. He now has five goals on the season.
“Liam has been great since he has been here,” Hodge said. “He’s real big-bodied and he fits in with (Tommy) Gannon and (Patrick) Last. That solidifies that line, and he competes every shift.”
Defenseman Damon Bossie and Gannon notched the assists.
Ben Portner scored late in the third period, giving the Thunder the insurance marker. Forward Denis Maliew and defenseman Nick Pomerleau tallied the assists.
“Portner shot it towards the net and it deflected off their defenseman and beat the goalie,” Hodge said. “When you work hard, you kind of get the bounces.”
New Hampshire goalie Oliver Drum made 31 saves in the loss.
The Thunder return to Norway Savings Bank Arena on Friday at 1 p.m. to take on the Islanders Hockey Club (17-19-3, 37 points). Both teams enter the game tied for fifth and are five points back of the South Shore Kings for fourth place and the final playoff spot in the North Division.
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