SWEET REDEMPTION

Gaborik hat trick highlights rout over Ibex

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Thunder Bay, Ont- Following a 3-1 loss the day before in Bismarck, the Timberwolves looked to bounce back in game 2 of the home-at-home against the North Dakota Ibex on Monday.

>>>Mike Fisher opened the scoring for Thunder Bay just 2:10 into the game. Goals from John Tavares, Marc Savard, Ales Hemsky and Marian Gaborik [pictured] off of 20 shots on Roberto Luongo, and the Timberwolves took a commanding 5-0 lead through 20 minutes of play.

>>>"To say we were a little pissed off about our streak ending to these guys the day before would be putting it very mildly," said centre Marc Savard between periods. "No one wants to lose, and we were no different. But if you do lose, you want to get right back at it right away. This was a gift from the schedule makers."

>>>Things cooled off some in the second period. But another 10 shots on Luongo and another Timberwolves tally from Matt Duchene, kept a win within reach.

>>>A Kyle Wellwood goal in the third ruined Henrik Lundqvist's bid for a 5th shutout, but caused no alarm for the Timberwolves. Two more goals from Gaborik completed the Slovak's 2nd hat trick of the season and finished off the Ibex 8-1 before a capacity crowd at Canadian National Gardens.

>>>The injury bug did hit the Thunder Bay blueline once again though. Adam Foote, who was in for an injured Anton Volchenkov was struck in the face with a Ibex clearing shot. Foote who was going to be replaced by the return of Erik Johnson anyway for the next game, will take this injury back to Duluth.

>>>"Couldn't have asked for a better response," said Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt after the game when asked about the win after the 11-game point steak ended the day before. "It was disappointing to have that streak end, but it was inevitable. What I wanted to see was exactly what I seen today. A win for one. But a statement-making, complete controlling win shows the resilience of the group we have here. Now we just need to remain consistent and we'll be alright."

>>>The Timberwolves next game is on Wednesday when the Beverly Hills Lawmasters (21-19-3) visit Thunder Bay.

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>>>3-STARS

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>>>*Marian Gaborik (THU) - Hat trick (2nd of season)

>>**Marc Savard (THU) - Goal and 2 assists

>***Ales Hemsky (THU) - Goal and an assist