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Cichocki gets milestone win, Fisher's 44-save effort outduels Moreland

January 17, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie goaltender Glenn Fisher tied a career-high 44-save effort while all-star Andy Contois scored a game-winning goal early in the third period to aid the Stockton Thunder (17-17-2, 36 points) in a 2-1 victory over the Fresno Falcons before a crowd of 6,415 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder is 7-3-0 in its last 10 games and is 4-1-0 in its last five all-time home games against Fresno, giving Head Coach Chris Cichocki the 200th victory in his all-time coaching career.

Both teams battled through a scoreless tie through one period, when Fisher made 15 saves to keep the score deadlocked, including a shorthanded breakaway save on Fresno's Brady Leisenring and a point-blank save on Fresno's Igor Gongalsky at the right circle.

Fresno goaltender Jake Moreland, recently named ECHL Goaltender of the Week, stopped all seven shots faced in the first period.

Rookie Tom Zanoski put the Thunder ahead 1-0 just a minute into the second period, scoring the team's eighth shorthanded goal of the season when he corralled a centering pass by center Brandon Schwartz and slipped a wrist shot through the five-hole of Moreland for his third goal of the season.

Fisher made 23 stops alone in the second frame, a Thunder season-high for one period, which included a diving save on Jarrett Konkle's one-timer from the right circle in the early stages and a snuffing of a Fresno 5-on-3 power-play.

Contois scored the eventual game-winner just 53 seconds into the third period, when Schwartz connected with Contois on a rinkwide pass from the center-ice red line. Contois raced down the right wing a beat Moreland to the blocker side on a wrist shot from the right circle for his 12th goal of the year.

Veteran John Morlang cut Fresno's deficit to 2-1 at the third period's 2:27 mark on a power-play goal, when he took a pass from Igor Gongalsky at the left circle and drilled a slap shot past Fisher which caromed off heavy traffic in the crease and re-directed into the goal mouth.

Fisher rebounded to keep Fresno at-bay for the remainder of the game with six saves in the third period to complete his 44-stop effort, tying the Thunder season-high for saves in one game.

NOTES: Before the game, Thunder right wing Spencer Carbery was placed on the seven-day injured reserve list ... veteran Tim Verbeek was the only healthy scratch for the Thunder ... since his return from retirement, the Thunder is 2-0-0 against Moreland, who was awarded the team's Most Valuable Player honors in 2005-06 ... Contois extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games, registering eight points (4g-4a) in that span.

The Thunder returns to play on Saturday, January 19 against the Las Vegas Wranglers, starting at 7:30 p.m. from Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live exclusively online (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, 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.

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