Roadrunners Get Thunderstruck 4-0 in Stockton
by Andrew Nordmeier
December 11, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Stockton Thunder opened its new building in grand style with a 4-0 whitewashing of the Phoenix Roadrunners Saturday night. Stockton started its season with 15 straight road games while waiting for its building to be done and looked right at home on opening night in front of a packed house of around 10,000.
Stockton (6-8-2) scored a pair of goals in the first period and never looked back. Mike Lalonde scored his 10th goal of the season at 7:51 on a two-man advantage when he picked up his own rebound and beat Roadrunners' goaltender Michael Mole to start the scoring. Tony Johnson put the Thunder up by a pair of goals when his bomb from the blue line found the net behind Mole over his glove at 12:38 on the man advantage. His goal was his first professional tally was unassisted.
Phoenix (7-11-2) fell behind 3-0 when Steve Slonina scored the first of his two goals 31 seconds into the middle period. Slonina's goal came off of a turnover by Phoenix's Mike Ouellet and he buried it behind Mole for a power-play strike on the backhander. Slonina struck again for his 11th goal of the season at 2:38 of the third period. He found a loose puck and beat Mole to make it 4-0 on a shorthanded tally.
The Roadrunners were outplayed at both ends of the ice and were outshot 34-22 by the Thunder. Stockton finished 2-of-9 on the power play while Phoenix went 0-for-7 on the man advantage.
About the only victory Phoenix had on the ice was when defenseman Brent Henley pummeled Jason Kostadine in a fight at the 4:55 mark of the third period. Henley wailed away on Kostadine and beat him down with a flurry of right fists.
These two teams meet again Sunday afternoon at 4pm in Stockton. The Thunder, at 1-0, joins Las Vegas (10-0-1) as the only unbeaten teams at home in regulation in the ECHL. The game ended at 12:09 am in Phoenix.
Three Stars
3. Moreland-STK Shutout win with 34 saves, sixth of his career
2. Lalonde-STK Game-winning goal
1. Slonina-STK Two goals for the Thunder
Notes: Phoenix defenseman Taylor Christie limped back off the ice during the second period but returned...Phoenix has now allowed four shorthanded goals this season...Phoenix's power play woes continue on as the Roadrunners are 3-of-34 in their last six games; their penalty kill is improving as they have stopped 36 of their last 39 power plays against...There could have been a battle of brothers as Phoenix forward J.F. Soucy's younger sibling, Dominic, plays for the Thunder but is currently on the 7-day injured list... The third period was delayed shortly due to the goal judge being tardy in returning from the concession stand. Ironically, the net Phoenix was shooting at in the third period was the understaffed one...The final period was also delayed by an issue with the moorings that hold one of the goals in place with 10:57 left in the third period...Stockton is 2-3-1 when scoring first...Phoenix falls to 0-10-0 when trailing after two periods.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 11, 2005
- RoadRunners Zip Past Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Oh Captain, My Captain: Tiltgen Gives Roadrunners 4-3 Win - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- RoadRunners Silence Thunder 4-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Royals Can't Hold Back The Dogs, 5-4 - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Charlotte clipped at Pensacola 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Roadrunners Get Thunderstruck 4-0 in Stockton - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Titans Sneak By Rays 2-1 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Ice Pilots Win 4-3 vs Charlotte - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Thunder-Struck! Stockton Shuts Out 'Runners 4-0 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Open and shutout case - Stockton Thunder
- Falcons Battle from Behind but Eventually Fall in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Aces extend streak to 11, beat Fresno 3-2 in a shootout - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies drop one to Gulls, 4-3 - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
