The phrase “moral victory” aptly described the Albert Lea Thunder’s 3-2 shootout loss Saturday to Alexandria.

The fact that the Thunder took the division-leader to a shootout showed the progress Albert Lea has sought. The Blizzard had outscored the Thunder 24-10 in the previous 4 meetings. The shootout loss gave Albert Lea its first point in 9 games.

Albert Lea will try to use whatever momentum it gained from the loss this weekend as it begins a crucial stretch of games. The Thunder will play 11 games in a little less than three weeks and it begins Friday against Bismarck — the only team Albert Lea has defeated.

“We’re going to have to come out strong this weekend and try to pick up as many points as we can,” head coach Brad Zangs said.

The two-game series has an added incentive for a trio of Thunder players. Niko Kapetanovic, Tom Lescovich and Anthony Brown all played for the Bobcats at one time. All three were released by Bismarck and they feel like they have something to prove.

“I know I’m excited to play back in Bismarck,” Kapetanovic said. “We’ve got something to prove to the Bismarck coaching staff. “I defenitiely want to have a good weekend. I’ll do anything I can to get two wins this weekend.”

Lescovich said he’s been looking forward to the game since the last one. In the first meeting Lescovich made 37 stops to help Albert Lea to its first win.

The Thunder will need to find some goals to help Lescovich out, however, those goals may be tough to find. Bismarck has two of the top goalies in the league with David Bosner and Matt Grogen. Bosner has a 2.05 goals against average and ranks No. 6 in the league. Bosner is a Division I recruit who will play for Air Force next season. Grogen has played in just three games but has a 2.49 goals against average.

The Bobcats will be physical and will play a lot of dump in chase against Albert Lea. The Thunder will have to be able to clear the puck from its zone to prevent Bismarck from taking advantage.

“We have to beat them to every loose puck and get it and throw it out,” Zangs said.

The Bobcats are on a six-game winning streak and have put up three or more goals in their last four games.

Albert Lea feels it can end that streak given that it has played Bismarck close in its previous meetings. The last meeting between the two ended in a 2-1 win for the Bobcats.

“We got to get good quality attempts,” Kapetanovic said about the win. “We just went to the net hard and kept putting pucks on the net. We got inside for our shots and that’s what we need to do.”

The Thunder will head home for a game Sunday against Alexandria. This weekend is a big opportunity for Albert Lea to pick up some much needed points as the team approaches the quarter point of the season.

“What we have practiced is going to the net hard,” Kapetanovic said. “Bosner does kick out rebounds, if we can get on top of those rebounds we should be fine.”