Boron's 48-save effort falls shy, Thunder drops first game out of the break

January 27, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Tim Boron made 48 saves for the Stockton Thunder (18-19-2, 38 points) in a losing cause as the Phoenix RoadRunners scored three unanswered goals in the first period to send the Thunder to a 3-1 loss before 7,552 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

In the Thunder's first game out of the All-Star break, Boron made back-to-back starts after a career-high 50-save shutout effort against the Las Vegas Wranglers on January 20 and has tallied a combined 98 saves in the last six periods.

Phoenix raced out to a 3-0 lead through one period of play, starting with Justin Maiser's 16th goal of the season at the 7:22 mark with a wrist shot from the left circle that handcuffed Thunder goaltender Tim Boron and beat him over the glove. Ian Turner's fifth goal of the season put the Thunder in a 2-0 hole with nine minutes left in the period, sniping a wrist shot through traffic from the high slot that beat Boron over his left pad.

Both Brandon Schwartz and defenseman Brian Lee earned simultaneous tripping penalties and Phoenix capitalized on the 5-on-3 situation with Captain Reagan Rome's fifth goal of the year to boost the Phoenix lead to 3-0 at the 14:15 mark. Rome took Daniel Sisca's cross-ice pass at the right point and ripped a one-timer past Boron and through traffic.

Phoenix goaltender Cody Rudkowsky made 11 saves in the period, including a point-blank save on Ryan MacMurchy early in the period when MacMurchy was stoned at the top of the crease while shorthanded.

Boron stopped 22 more shots in the second to keep the deficit at three, including a penalty shot stop on Gino Guyer with 2:44 left in the period. Guyer raced down the right wing at an angle and deked to the backhander which was stopped by Boron's left pad.

The Thunder turned the shot total around in the third period with a 9-8 clip over the RoadRunners and broke Rudkowsky's shutout with 4:36 left in regulation on rookie Geoff Paukovich's eighth goal of the year. With Rudkowsky regaining his balance in net after a point-blank save on Adam Huxley from the slot, Paukovich buried the rebound over Rudkowsky's blocker.

Rudkowsky finished the game with 28 saves, taking first star of the game honors.

NOTES: The Thunder missed the services of Beau Geisler (injured reserve) and Spencer Carbery (injured reserve) ... the Thunder fell to 4-2-0 in the season series to Phoenix and the loss marked the first on home ice against Phoenix since December 11, 2005

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow to begin a three-game road trip, taking on the Fresno Falcons at Save Mart Center at 5:00 p.m. The game can be heard live exclusively online (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



ECHL Stories from January 27, 2008


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