ONTARIO, Calif. - Veteran forward Jason Pitton's wrist shot from the right circle at 1:35 of sudden death overtime helped the Stockton Thunder (5-8-3, 13 point) thwart a rally by the Ontario Reign and take a 4-3 overtime victory before an announced crowd of 7,705 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday night.
The win snapped the Thunder's seven-game winless streak (0-4-3) and Craig Valette led the Stockton offense with a three-point game (1g-2a), supporting three-power play goals in regulation by Valette, Judd Blackwater and Ryan Constant. Goaltender Andrew Perugini secured the victory with 39 saves.
Tim Kraus, Michael Egener and Greg Hogeboom scored for Ontario.
The Thunder, who moved into sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division, raced out to a 2-0 edge after one period on two power-play goals. Valette opened the scoring by cashing in a rebound on the doorstep with 7:47 elapsed and Blackwater hammered in a rebound below the right circle with 16:10 into the period for his eighth goal of the year.
Constant ripped a wrist shot from the high slot for the Thunder's third power-play goal with 6:25 gone in the second period to hike the lead to 3-0, converting on Valette's centering pass from the left corner.
Ontario got back into the game with two goals in the middle period, starting with Tim Kraus' rebound goal at 9:20. The Reign chopped the deficit to a single goal when Geoff Walker found Mike Engener at the high slot, whose one-timer found the back of the net through traffic with 15:07 gone in the period.
Greg Hogeboom's eighth goal of the year tied the score with 4:12 left in the final period, converting a one-timer at the left goal post from Jon Francisco's centering bid.
Pitton buried the Reign at 1:35 of sudden death overtime when he outraced Ontario's defense down the right wing and snapped a shot under the crossbar for his fourth goal of the season.
Zacharias took the loss in net, making 29 saves.
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