STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie James Bates scored at 2:28 into sudden death overtime for his second of two goals, helping guide the Stockton Thunder to a 5-4 overtime victory over the Ontario Reign in Game 4 of the Pacific Division Semifinal round of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before 4,913 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday.The Thunder improved to a 2-1 lifetime record in Game 4 contests and won a playoff game in overtime for the first time in club history. David Rohlfs, Cory Urquhart and Ryan Huddy also scored a goal for the Thunder, while rookie goaltender Parker Van Buskirk - added to the Thunder playoff roster less than a week ago - made 29 saves in his playoff debut.
STOCKTON VS. ONTARIO - PACIFIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Game 1: Stockton 3 at Ontario 4
Game 2: Stockton 6 at Ontario 5
Game 3: Ontario 5 at Stockton 1
Game 4: Ontario 4 at Stockton 5 (OT)
Game 5: Ontario at Stockton - Sunday, April 19 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 6: Stockton at Ontario - Tuesday, April 21 - 7:00 p.m. (Citizens Business Bank Arena)
Game 7: Stockton at Ontario - Wednesday, April 22 - 7:00 p.m. (Citizens Business Bank Arena) *
* If necessary
Tim Kraus (2g-1a) and Bud Holloway (1g-2a) led Ontario offensively with three points each, who helped spur a two-goal rally in the final 1:52 of regulation.
Rohlfs helped the Thunder draw first blood with his first goal of the playoffs just two minutes into the game when he banged a rebound past goaltender Jeff Zatkoff's stick side after Judd Blackwater set up the play with a soft wrist shot from the right circle.
However, Blackwater - who had his scoring streak extended to four consecutive games with an assist on the goal - was lost for the rest of the game when he was handed a five-minute elbowing major penalty and game misconduct just 36 seconds later when he collided with Ontario's Shawn Germain.
The Reign retaliated by knotting the score at 1-1 on Kraus' power-play goal at 6:48 when he buried a rebound on a scramble at the goal mouth. Kraus then gave Ontario its only lead of the game on another power-play goal at 7:20 of the second period, when he finished a one-timer in the deep slot.
Urquhart's fourth goal of the playoffs tied the score at 2-2 just 2:57 later when he scored on the rush with a one-timer from the slot, converting Craig Valette's saucer pass from the right wing.
Huddy's second goal of the playoffs restored the Thunder lead at 3-2 with 5:31 left in the second when he took Cleve Kinley's pass from behind the goal and beat Zatkoff with a one-timer to the blocker side.
Bates gave the Thunder some breathing room with a goal coming after a Thunder power-play expired with 6:13 gone in the third period, slamming a snap shot from between the hash marks to hike the lead to 4-2.
The Thunder were in position to close the game on several chances but a Zatkoff save on a Valette breakaway set the table for a wild comeback in the last two minutes of play. Ontario's P.J. Atherton was whistled for a tripping penalty with 2:13 left in regulation, putting the Reign in a gambling position for scoring chances while down a man.
The rally began on Jon Rheault's shorthanded goal with 1:52 left in the third period, closing the gap to 4-3 when his snap shot beat Van Buskirk from the left circle. Following an Urquhart empty-net miss from center ice which struck the goal post, Zatkoff was pulled to put both teams at a five-on-five skating situation.
After the Reign gained entry, rookie Colten Teubert capitalized off a maze of bodies in front at the crease and his centering pass struck Holloway, who re-directed the pass into the net with 23 seconds left in regulation, leveling the score at 4-4.
The Thunder responded in quick fashion in the overtime stages and ended the game on Bates' winner with 17:32 left in overtime. After Stockton won an offensive zone faceoff, Ryan Huddy walked out from the right corner and fed the slot for Bates, who picked up the puck and blasted a snap shot past Zatkoff's glove to end the game and send the crowd of Stockton Arena into delirium.
NOTES: The Thunder scratched Sebastien Bisaillon (injured reserve), Tyler Kindle (injured reserve), Adam Huxley (healthy), Andrew Perugini (injured reserve) and Brandon Naurato (healthy) ... the Thunder outshot Ontario 38-33 and took the overtime shot count, 4-1 ... Huddy led the Thunder offense with three points (1g-2a) ... Jeff Zatkoff made 33 saves for Ontario in the loss.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Sunday at Stockton Arena, when the Thunder take on the Reign at 4:00 p.m. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN (potentially joined in progress) and is available for viewing online (audio is free-of-charge) for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).
The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 and Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.
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