8,042 fans enjoy D'Alvise, Robinson, Bates trio effort of nine points in rout

Published on March 7, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Chris D'Alvise registered a career-high four assists and linemates James Bates (1g-2a) and Matt Robinson (two goals) chipped in with five combined points to help the Stockton Thunder (26-23-8, 62 points) demolish the Victoria Salmon Kings in a 7-3 victory before 8,042 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

The Thunder, who had 13 different players hit the scoresheet and were aided by goaltender Aaron Sorochan, who earned his first career ECHL victory with 33 saves. Oren Eizenman, Igor Gongalsky, Daryl Marcoux and Kelly Czuy each contributed with a goal and the power-play motored to a 3-for-11 effort.

The Thunder, who went 2-1-0 in the three-game set against Victoria, also closed the gap to five points behind the Pacific Division's first place Bakersfield Condors, who lost 7-3 earlier in the evening at Idaho.

An offensively wild first period put the Thunder ahead of Victoria, 3-2 beginning with three combined goals in a span of 1:07. Robinson buried his first of the game and 21st of the season at 4:23 on a one-timer at the right circle but the 1-0 lead was quickly erased just 16 seconds later when Wes Goldie finished Olivier Filion's post-to-post feed at the right side for a 1-1 tie.

Gongalsky quickly restored the Thunder lead to 2-1 just 51 seconds later, converting a backdoor pass from Justin DaCosta at the left goal post for his 12th goal of the year, coming on a 6-on-5 skating situation and delayed penalty.

The was hiked to 3-1 when Eizenman converted J.F. Caudron's centering pass from behind the net past Fisher's blocker side with 8:31 left in the period, but Victoria closed the gap to a goal when Dirk Southern deked his way past the Thunder defense on a rush through the right wing, beating Sorochan through the five-hole with 3:35 remaining.

Stockton restored the two-goal margin with their third shorthanded goal in as many nights on a highlight reel 2-on-1 break with 5:16 gone in the second period on Marcoux's third goal of the season. Marcoux took a cross-ice pass from D'Alvise and slid a one-timer past Fisher's outstretched pad at the right circle.

Bates' 20th goal of the season, becoming the fourth Thunder player to hit the 20-goal plateau this season, expanded the cushion to 5-2 with 2:42 left in the period on a power-play goal, when he rifled a snap shot past Fisher from the right wing.

A rocket drive by Czuy from the right circle, his fourth goal of the year, boosted the lead to 6-2 with 1:18 left in the period for the second straight power-play goal.

Robinson converted the third consecutive power-play marker for a 7-2 Thunder lead for his career high 22nd goal of the season with 3:40 gone in the final period, burying a rebound in the deep slot with Fisher scrambling for a rebound.

Victoria managed a consolation goal with 13:41 left in the game on a Chad Painchaud slapshot at the right wing, a power-play goal which trimmed the final margin to four goals.

Fisher, making his fourth consecutive start at Stockton Arena, made 34 saves in the defeat.

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