Bunz runs shutout streak over 137 minutes, Campbell scores game winner

Published on October 20, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAS VEGAS - - Scott Campbell scored a game winning goal 30 seconds into sudden death overtime, lifting the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Stockton Thunder (1-1-1, 3 points) before 5,656 fans at Orleans Arena on Friday.

The Thunder, who held a 1-0 lead after two periods, squeezed out a point on the Wranglers' Western Conference championship banner night with the help of goals by Teigan Zahn and Philippe Cornet.

Goaltender Tyler Bunz was tagged with the overtime loss despite being credited with 21 saves - many on high grade scoring opportunities - while counterpart Joe Fallon stopped 16 shots.

Zahn lifted the Thunder to a 1-0 advantage at the 9:11 mark of the first period when his seemingly harmless wrist shot from the left boards deflected off Fallon's glove and into the back of the net. Zahn picked up his first professional goal on the play and helped the Thunder secure the one goal lead after 20 minutes by outshooting Las Vegas 9-8.

Bunz also helped keep the lead afloat by making an incredible diving save on rookie Adam Hughesman. The Wranglers dumped the puck into the Thunder zone, which caromed off the glass partition and towards a vacated net after Bunz left his crease to play the puck.

Hughesman fired a quick re-direction and Bunz kept the shot out with a diving blocker save.

Bunz followed up with another stop in the second period on Judd Blackwater, whose wrist shot off an outnumbered attack hit the post and ricocheted toward the goal line. Bunz quickly fell to his back which covered the puck and upheld the 1-0 lead.

Yet, Las Vegas had an answer when Blackwater finished a give-and-go with Adam Huxley at the front of the net to level the game, 1-1 at the 2:13 mark of the third period. Cornet restored the Thunder lead just 3:27 later when he completed a tape-to-tape centering feed by Eric Hunter and buried a wrist shot from the inside of the right circle.

The Wranglers tied the score again on Chris Francis' power play goal with 8:45 left in regulation. Francis set a screen at the net and caught a piece of Mike Madill's blast from the high slot, which snuck under Bunz's right pad.

The Thunder had a pair of chances to seal a crucial go-ahead goal late in the game, but was foiled when Fallon stopped Cornet's point blank chance at the right circle. Gabriel Levesque and newcomer Yannick Riendeau were also stopped on a two-on-one opportunity.

Campbell sealed the game with the winner just 30 seconds into overtime. Sean Wiles stripped Shawn Boutin at the Las Vegas blueline and raced away on a breakaway. Bunz made the initial save but Campbell crashed the net at top speed, sneaking the rebound inside of the left post for the winning goal.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Evan Vossen, Phil Mangan, Ryan Green, Cameron Brodie, Kevin Noble and Justin Maylan ... Cornet led the Thunder with seven shots on goal and has a point in three consecutive games ... Tony DeHart and Channing Boe fought at the 5:59 mark of the second period ... Blackwater's goal broke a shutout streak by Bunz of 137:49.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow at Las Vegas, starting at 7:05 p.m. (1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com).

A two time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets, Group Tickets and Mini-Plans for 2012-13 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.

THREE STARS:

1. LV - S. Campbell

2. LV - J. Blackwater

3. LV - N. Julseth-White

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