Alaska pushes Thunder to brink of elimination on late power play goal

Published on April 21, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Steve Ward broke a 2-2 tie on a game winning power play goal with 5:52 to play in regulation, helping the Alaska Aces send the Stockton Thunder to a 4-2 defeat in game four of the Western Conference Semifinal, before 4,227 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

The Thunder fell behind, 3-1 and must win game five on Saturday to avoid playoff elimination. They built leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on goals by Chris D'Alvise and Gabriel Levesque while Nick Mazzolini and Dan Kissel each collected two points for Alaska.

Alaska owned the edge in shots, 30-21 and Gerald Coleman earned the win in net with 19 saves.

"Having your back against the wall is not a bad spot to be in," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "A lot of teams in the playoffs end up in that situation and doing really well. It gives you an opportunity to show what you're made of. We can't go from 12 shots to six shots to three shots, because they're not doing anything differently."

STOCKTON VS. ALASKA - WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS (all times listed PT) (Alaska leads series, 3-1) Game 1: Stockton 1 at Alaska 2 Game 2: Stockton 3 at Alaska 2 (OT) Game 3: Alaska 4 at Stockton 0 Game 4: Alaska 4 at Stockton 2 Game 5: Alaska at Stockton - Saturday, April 21 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) Game 6: Stockton at Alaska - Tuesday, April 24 - 8:15 p.m. (Sullivan Arena) * Game 7: Stockton at Alaska - Wednesday, April 25 - 8:15 p.m. (Sullivan Arena) * *If necessary

D'Alvise's fourth goal of the playoffs put the Thunder up 1-0 at the 7:32 mark of the second period. Max Campbell intercepted a pass at the left circle and found Greg Squires at the net for a deflection. Coleman stopped the shot but D'Alvise cleaned up the rebound in the blue paint.

Tyson Marsh's fluttering shot from the left point changed angles and beat Olivier Roy at the blocker side for a 1-1 tie just 1:18 into the second period, after the Thunder were unable to clear the zone.

A power play goal by Levesque restored the lead at 2-1 at the 7:13 mark, when he cashed in on a third chance rebound at the crease after Kevin Baker's rebound bid slammed off the post.

Alaska forged a 2-2 tie with 1:44 left in the period when Nick Mazzolini skated behind the net, got Roy off the left post and converted on a centering pass to Ryan Cruthers.

They completed a second period effort by outshooting the Thunder, 12-6, marking the third game in the series that was tied after two periods.

Both teams engaged in a tight checking duel to begin the third period and the Thunder fell victim to a shorthanded situation when Mike Little was called for tripping at 12:22.

Ward capitalized after the Thunder tied the puck along the boards for nearly 30 seconds but couldn't manage to clear the zone. Bryan Miller scooped the freed puck and backpedaled toward the high slot to get a clear shooting lane.

After his slap shot missed wide of the net, the puck took a rocket-like carom off the boards to Ward, who was wide open at the left circle. He stuffed the rebound past Roy's blocker, before the goaltender could recover at the left post.

Nick Mazzolini finished the game on an empty netter with three seconds left.

"You get rid of it, you forget about it, now it's all what we're made of," said Thomas. "We've got to go out there and we're certainly not in any mood to lose three games in a row at home."

Roy took the loss with 26 stops.

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