The Albert Lea Thunder lost 6-2 Friday night to Bismarck at the City Arena.

The Bobcats scored less than a minute into the game when Cody Keefer scored on an assist from Jordan Singer and John Clark to lead 1-0.

But then the second period started and the Thunder allowed four goals in the stanza and Bismarck took a commanding lead.

“The second period killed us,” Albert Lea head coach Brad Zangs said. “The first period we dominated them, I though we outplayed them then the second period the wheels fell off.”

The Thunder found the scoreboard in third period twice. The first goal came at the 5:18 mark from Danny Wood who was assisted by Niko Kapetanovic and Mitch Tews. It was the third goal that Wood and Kapetanovic have combined on this season. Then six minutes later Matt Sempeck scored his first goal of the season on an assist from Jake Armijo and Zach Lewis.

Zangs said the team has improved in each game and that it showed the most progress Friday against Bismarck.

“I think we made huge progress,” Zangs said. “All that little stuff is starting coming around.”

Zangs said the Thunder only gave up one odd-man rush and the forecheck was much improved. But in spite of the improvements, the goaltending needs to improve.

“It wasn’t a 6-2 game,” Zangs said.

The problem on defense for Albert Lea has been giving up quality scoring chances on shots from good angles, Zangs said.