DUCHENE SHINES; WOLVES UNBEATEN IN 10

Duchene's two goals lift TBay past resurgent Donuts

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Thunder Bay, Ont- Despite the recently added firepower to the Wisborg Donuts, Alex Ovechkin and Ryan Getzlaf could not overcome the overall team success of the on-fire, Thunder Bay Timberwolves on Wednesday.

>>>"We're aware of their new players," remarked Wolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg prior to the game. "They are explosive and can dominate a game on their own. Other than keying in on those guys who are no doubt wanting to make an impact with their new team, our gameplan is simple. Shut them down right off the bat and take our game to them."

>>>Wisborg was knocked off their game early. An out of position hook from Matt Moulson put Thunder Bay on the game's first power play at 1:47. Matt Duchene [pictured] put the Timberwolves on top at 2:45 for the rookie's 6th goal from Ales Hemsky and Simon Gagne.

>>>Another power play tally from Hemsky and an even-strength one from Rick Nash put the home team up 3-0 going into the first intermission.

>>>"We did what we wanted to do there in the first," alternate captain, Mike Fisher said at the intermission. "They're a proud team though with loads of talent. So we cannot sit back on them here in the second. We have to keep taking it to them."

>>>Feeling inspired and probably ripped apart by their coach, Wisborg came out flying and notched their first of the game at 1:29 from Patrick Hornqvist.

>>>Duchene got that goal back for Thunder Bay 26 seconds later for his second of the game.

>>>But another from Hornqvist at 14:27 brought the Donuts back in it and went into the second intermission with something to build on.

>>>In the final 20 minutes, the Timberwolves did all they could to sustain the chances of the now clicking Donuts. Henrik Lundqvist needed to be sharp, and he was until a heady Ovechkin came in on the netminder wristed a shot over his left shoulder to draw Wisborg within 1 at 8:37.

>>>The final 10+ minutes of play were the most awe-inspiring for the Timberwolves this season thus far. A timeout from Hartsburg immediately after the Ovechkin goal was a perfect time to calm the nerves and instill a tightened up gameplan. Thunder Bay kept the Wisborg attack to the boards and the next nine shots that Lundqvist seen were clear and from way out... and all stopped.

>>>Thunder Bay would go on to win the game 4-3 over Wisborg for the second time this season and notch their 8th in a row and 10th in a row with at least a point (9-0-1).

>>>"The hardest part of maintaining this success is staying as even keeled as possible," said Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt after the game. "This is a big win against an opponent that is clearly in our boat. Wisborg is a very good club. We enjoy this win, take things from it, good and bad, and take this momentum into the next one and beyond."

>>>Thunder Bay's next game is on the road to southern California when the Timberwolves take on the Beverly Hills Lawmasters (20-17-3) on Friday.

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>>>3-STARS

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>>>*Matt Duchene (THU) - 2 goals (including 1 on the power play)

>>**Ales Hemsky (THU) - Power play goal and 2 assists

>***Patrik Hornqvist (WIS) - 2 goals