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Condors Five-Goal Rally Sends Thunder To Third Straight Defeat

December 26, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors scored five unanswered goals and were led by Ryan Nie's 31 saves in relief for the final two periods, sending the Stockton Thunder to a 7-3 loss at Rabobank Arena on Friday.

The Thunder received scoring from Toby LaFrance, Cory Urquhart and Jeff Kyrzakos in the first period.

Both teams erupted for five combined goals in the opening period, starting with Toby LaFrance's third goal of the year at 5:05 to lift the Thunder to a 1-0 lead, who re-directing Craig Valette's drive from the high slot past Bakersfield goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji.

Tylor Michel was awarded his second goal of the year to knot the score at 1-1 just 28 seconds later, converting a rebound after Matt Pope's snap shot from the rush hit the crossbar. Cory Urquhart answered on the ensuing shift at 5:59 to restore Stockton's lead to 2-1, blasting a rebound through Fukufuji's five-hole.

The Condors knotted the score again at 2-2 with 8:30 left on a power-play goal, the seventh marker of the season for Dave Bonk who converted a rebound to the glove side of Bryan Pitton. Jeff Kyrzakos put the Thunder ahead 3-2 with 1:14 left in the period with his fourth goal of the season on a backhanded rebound that beat Fukufufji to the glove side.

Three goals by the Condors aided their rally in the second period to assume a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes. Michel scored his second goal of the game at 1:17 to tie the game at 3-3.

Veteran Andrew Ianiero put his team ahead for the first time in the game at a 4-3 score with 8:04 left in the second, finishing a one-timer from below the hash marks courtesy a feed by Mike Wirll from behind the net.

Another Wirll set-up enabled the Condors to stretch the lead to 5-3 with 42 seconds left in the period, when his feed from the left circle found Chad Painchaud at the doorstep, who one-tapped the puck to the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season.

Ryan Nie replaced Fukufuji in net and stopped all 17 shots by the Thunder in the second period, including a breakway by former Condor Justin Chwedoruk.

Matt Pope pushed the Condors edge to 6-3 at 10:24 of the third period when his wrist shot from the right circle dribbled through Pitton's five-hole. Mike Wirll capitalized on a defensive breakdown at 11:19 of the third period when he converted a post-to-post pass at the left circle from Brett Pilkington to finish the scoring.

Pitton made 31 saves in the defeat.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Ryan MacMurchy (injury, day-to-day), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), James Bates (healthy), Brandon Scero (healthy) and Damian Surma (travel) ... the Thunder dropped to 1-3-0 in the season series and are now 11-11-7 lifetime against Bakersfield ... the Thunder outshot the Condors 43-38.

The Thunder returns home for its next game on Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. faceoff against the Victoria Salmon Kings at Stockton Arena. The game is available exclusively online (audio is free-of-charge) for viewing for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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/.



ECHL Stories from December 26, 2008


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