0 Roy ties Thunder record with third shutout this season in win at Bakersfield

January 7, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Goaltender Olivier Roy made 29 saves for his third shutout of the season and Jordan Fulton scored the only goal of the game in the first period, helping boost the Stockton Thunder (14-13-4, 32 points) to a 1-0 victory over the host Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena on Friday.

Roy tied a Thunder record, shared by Tim Boron (2007-08) and Andrew Perugini (2009-10) for most shutouts in one season and earned his sixth win of the season.

The Thunder, who improved to 4-2-0 this season against the Condors, moved to a point behind fifth place in the Western Conference, shared by Utah and Idaho.

"Olivier was good and the difference maker tonight," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "I thought he was real good early on and also in a penalty kill during the third period, especially with the glove save on Eric Burgdoerfer when it was getting down to the wire. We needed him to be big. I thought we played a strong game defensively and a smart road game."

Fulton scored his third goal of the season just 1:42 into the game when he raced behind the Condors defense and stashed a forehand wrist shot over Matt Keetley's blocker, completing a lead pass by Bretton Cameron.

"When you score on your first shot it helps put us in the game early," said Roy. "It made my job easier knowing the guys can give you an early lead. I've been trying to keep working hard in practice and making the most out of good games."

Keetley and Roy exchanged eight saves in the second period to keep the one goal disparity afloat. Milan Kytnar's backhander was denied on a chance for a 2-0 Thunder lead with Keetley's blocker save at the top of the crease.

Roy's best save in the period came on a 2-on-2 rush when he stopped Matthew Sisca's slapshot from the left circle.

In the third period, Bakersfield managed eight shots on net as Roy remained poised on a trio of quality scoring chances. With nine minutes left and Bakersfield on a power play, he turned away Tyler Helfrich's rebound bid at the left post with a right pad stop.

The Condors continued pressure on the same man advantage and Roy turned away another rebound bid when he made a diving save with his stick at the right post, following Casey Pierro-Zabotel's missed one timer from the high slot.

With five minutes left, Roy robbed Burgdoerfer with a glove save on a wrist shot from the right corner, which was ticketed for the upper corner of the net.

The Thunder helped preserve the lead when they grabbed a power play with 2:11 left in the game and kept offensive pressure on Keetley.

After the Condors pulled Keetley for an extra attacker, Roy stopped Sisca's drive from the left circle with 19 seconds left. The Thunder won the subsequent faceoff and Ian O'Connor's clear off the left glass sealed the game.

Keetley earned the loss with 23 saves.



ECHL Stories from January 7, 2012


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