Caudron nets assist in Thunder debut, Derlago goal enough for Idaho rally

Published on November 25, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rejean Beauchemin made 23 saves and Mark Derlago broke a 1-1 tie with a go-ahead goal with 12:29 left in regulation to help the Idaho Steelheads sneak by the Stockton Thunder (5-9-3, 13 points), 2-1 before 4,592 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder, who are unbeaten in regulation in seven of ten games (5-3-2) in its ECHL schedule except for a 0-6-1 clip this season against Idaho, received help from goaltender Bryan Pitton who made 26 saves in net despite taking the loss.

Igor Gongalsky scored his first goal of the year and Evan Barlow tied the game in the third period just minutes before Derlago's go-head goal.

Both teams played through a scoreless tie in the first period and Idaho outshot the Thunder, 9-6 in the opening period. Pitton turned away a close-range backhander from Matt McKnight from below the hash marks, while Beauchemin made a point-blank save in the waning seconds on a penalty kill, off Steve Vanoosten's one-timer from the deep slot.

Gongalsky broke the scoreless tie and buried his first goal of the year just 55 seconds into the second period, converting Oren Eizenman's centering pass from behind the net with an additional helper from J.F. Caudron on the play, which was his first point in a Thunder uniform.

Idaho, who led the ECHL in defense with just 2.4 goals per game before Friday's game, hung around while Beauchemin made two heart-stopping saves on a Chris D'Alvise breakaway and a backhander by Gongalsky after he deked around the Idaho defense at the right side of the crease.

The Steelheads, who already had two come-from-behind wins when trailing after the second period, broke through and leveled the score at 1-1 with 14:54 left in regulation when Barlow cleaned up a rebound amidst traffic after a drive from the point by Brendan Milnamow and snuck in a backhander from the top of the crease.

Derlago then buried the game-winner when he walked out from behind the net and slipped a wrist shot past a screened Pitton from the right circle.

Beauchemin preserved the win with nine saves in the final period and averted a final 6-on-5, extra-attacker flurry by the Thunder in the final seconds of regulation after Oren Eizenman missed on a backhander from tight range.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Mike Bayrack (injured reserve), Bobby Davey (healthy), Colin Power (healthy) and Kelly Czuy (injured reserve)... the Thunder power-play, which had been ranked second in the ECHL heading into the game, was held to an 0-for-5 clip and is 0-for-19 in the last four head-to-head games against the Steelheads... Garet Hunt and Idaho counterpart Adam Huxley dropped the gloves just 48 seconds into the game and Huxley and Ryan Constant followed with another tilt at the 10:53 mark of the opening period... Judd Blackwater fought Guillaume Monast with 5:27 gone in the second period and Monast earned a game misconduct after his jersey wasn't tied down.

The Thunder returns to play at Stockton Arena for its next game on Friday with a rematch against the Idaho Steelheads at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

THREE STARS:

1. IDH - 32 Rejean Beauchemin

2. IDH - 20 Evan Barlow

3. STK - 11 Igor Gongalsky

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ECHL Stories from November 25, 2009


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