Bergland caps comeback with overtime winner, Thunder takes 1-0 series lead

April 6, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Matt Bergland's wrist shot 3:49 into overtime helped the Stockton Thunder finish off a rally from a two goal deficit to take Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, 3-2 over the Las Vegas Wranglers at Stockton Arena on Friday.

"The one thing we talked about before the game is that we needed to play hard for 60 minutes." Thunder head coach Matt Thomas said, "Regardless of what the score was, we couldn't quit. We couldn't play frustrated."

Bergland, who finished an up ice rush with a wrist shot from the right circle, notched Stockton's seventh consecutive overtime victory in the playoffs. He was joined on the scoresheet by center Harrison Reed and defenseman Shawn Boutin, who notched his first goal of the season.

Goaltender Olivier Roy made 29 saves, while Joe Fallon stopped 27 shots.

The Wranglers took a 1-0 lead when Geoff Paukovich deflected a shot by Mike Madill into the net just 3:22 into the first period.

Matt Campanale doubled the lead at the 12:29 mark of the second period with a slap shot from the left circle.

The Thunder cut the lead in half 3:23 into the third period. From the point, defenseman Tony DeHart blasted a slap shot that was deflected at the net by Reed. The puck sailed into the top of the net, making the count at 2-1.

Just 1:43 later, Boutin, who did not score a goal in the regular season, launched a shot from the point. The puck sailed through traffic, bouncing off the left post for the goal, which tied the game at 2-2.

With over three minutes elapsed into overtime, captain Garet Hunt swung the puck to Bergland who gained a speedy entry into the Wranglers zone. Bergland beat Fallon through five-hole, sending Stockton Arena into pandemonium and giving the Thunder the Game 1 win.

"We transitioned up the ice real quickly and I saw it was a two-on-two." Bergland said, "Any time you can get the puck on net on a two-on-two, it's what we want to do. I just threw it at the net. I actually didn't realize it was in until I saw it in the corner."

"It's always a good feeling to win in overtime." continued Bergland, "We worked hard and it feels good."



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