7,489 fans witness Perugini's 30 saves as Thunder maintain playoff pace

Published on March 8, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 30 saves while Cory Urquhart posted two assists to help the Stockton Thunder (29-28-5, 63 points) sink the Utah Grizzlies in a 4-1 victory before 7,489 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday.

With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Thunder, who improved to 5-3-0 in a stretch of playing nine games in 12 days, benefited from a balanced scoring attack on goals each from Ryan MacMurchy, Craig Valette, James Bates and Ryan Huddy. Scott Thauwald netted the only goal for Utah. Perugini's win boosted his record to 14-3-0 in his last 17 appearances.

Utah opened the scoring with 4:28 left when Scott Thauwald took Tim Verbeek's pass for a shorthanded breakaway and converted a backhander through Perugini's five-hole for his seventh goal of the year.

The Thunder retaliated on Ryan MacMurchy's 9th goal of the season with 31.1 seconds left in the first period, taking Mark Adamek's home run pass at the left wing and beating goaltender Michael Mole with a forehand deke to level the score at 1-1.

Veteran Craig Valette snapped a 14-game goal-scoring drought with the 100th point of his career at 3:15 of the second period, poking a rebound past Mole to put the Thunder ahead 2-1. Bates followed with his 13th goal of the season on the power-play with 3:43 left in the second period to hike the Thunder lead to 3-1, taking Igor Gongalsky's centering pass and snapping a one-timer under the crossbar.

Perugini, who denied former Thunder forward Tim Verbeek on a one-timer in the slot and a 2-on-1 shorthanded break in the third period, closed the door in 16 shots by the Grizzlies in the final frame, forcing Utah into hot pursuit mode.

Mole was pulled for a 6-on-5 skating situation with 2:03 left in the game and the Thunder put the finishing touches on the victory with Ryan Huddy's empty net goal from the red line with 1:12 left in regulation, who scored his team-leading 31st goal of the season.

Mole made 28 saves in the defeat.

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