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Boisclair's three points help Thunder to crucial win over Wranglers

March 9, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - In a possible playoff preview, the Stockton Thunder (31-23-9, 71 points) held off a late rally by the Las Vegas Wranglers (30-26-5, 65 points) to secure a 4-3 win in front of 4,456 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

The Thunder was paced by forward Maxime Boisclair, who finished with a goal and three points. Defenseman Mike Little, forward Garet Hunt, and defenseman Brandon Davidson also found the back of the net for the Thunder. Forward Matt Reber recorded two assists.

"[The penalty kill] ended up being the difference in the third period." Thunder head coach Matt Thomas said, "We had to kill a bunch of penalties in the third. Our power play got us the lead and our PK managed to hold it. That's what you want out of your special teams."

After going 0-9 on the power play on Sunday, the Thunder was perfect on Friday, going 2-2 on the man advantage.

For the Thunder, goaltender Tyler Bunz (15-14-4) recorded 25 saves, while Joe Fallon stopped 23 shots for Las Vegas.

The Thunder jumped on the board early in the first period. Forward Matt Ambroz tried a wrap-around shot that was denied by Fallon at the left post. However, the rebound deflected to the right side of the crease, where Boisclair stuffed it home to put the Thunder on top 1-0 just 1:48 into the game.

On the first power play of the game Reber found Hunt in the slot. Hunt let fly a wrist shot that sailed by Fallon's stick at the left post, giving the Thunder its second goal exactly five minutes into the first period.

Las Vegas cut the lead in half when Robbie Smith took Chris Francis' pass at the left circle and sent a slap shot by Bunz's stick, making the count 2-1 15:12 into the first period.

The Wranglers evened the count just past the halfway point of the contest. Matt Campanale sent a shot from the point that a charging Judd Blackwater deflected at the lip of the crease, evening the score 2-2 10:03 into the second period.

Just over two minutes later, the Thunder struck back on another power play. Defenseman Nathan Deck swung the puck to Little at the point. Little blasted a shot that sailed through traffic that beat Fallon, restoring the Thunder lead at 3-2 at the 12:41 mark.

With exactly one minute remaining in the second period, Boisclair sent a cross-ice pass to Davidson at the left circle. Davidson finished off the pass for his seventh goal in ten games with the Thunder, increasing the lead to 4-2.

On a five-on-three penalty kill, the Thunder saw its lead dwindle down to 4-3 when Sean Wiles deflected Blackwater's shot from the point into the goal 13:32 into the third period.

"We wanted to put a scene in their head that if we play them in the playoffs, it's going to be a hard battle" Boisclair said.



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