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Dahl scores two goals, Thunder chases Morrison in first five minutes

January 30, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - Center Jim Dahl scored two goals in a three-goal first period rally, as the Stockton Thunder (20-11-8, 48 points) cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,246 at U.S. Airways Center on Tuesday night.

The Thunder began their outburst with rookie center Tyler Spurgeon's 13th goal of the season just 29 seconds into the game for a 1-0 advantage, firing a wrist shot from the left wing that trickled under former NHL and current Phoenix netminder Mike Morrison and into the goal. Just six seconds later, Mike Lalonde scored his 16th goal of the season with a blast from a similar spot to set a new Thunder record for the quickest two goal stretch.

Dahl netted his first goal in a Stockton uniform at the 4:54 mark to hike the lead to 3-0, corralling a Beau Geisler pass in the middle of the slot and beating Morrison with a wrist shot for a power-play goal. Morrison was immediately lifted for Cody Rudkowsky, who finished the period with 10 saves.

Rudkowsky continued his tear in relief of Morrison with an array of close-range saves in the second period, which the Thunder upstaged with Dahl's second goal of the game and fifth of the season for a 4-0 Thunder lead. Dahl finished forward Stephen Slonina's pass from behind the net and beat Rudkowsky to the glove side at the 16:34 mark. Dubnyk made 14 saves to keep Phoenix scoreless through two periods.

Veteran Tim Verbeek hiked the Thunder lead to 5-0 at the 7:39 mark, followed by Phoenix defenseman Dave Pszenyczny's fourth goal of the year to put the RoadRunners on the scoreboard with 14:40 elapsed. Just 1:18 later, Phoenix leading scorer Justin Aikins garnered a semi-breakaway and slid with the puck into the Thunder net, with the goal counting for his 17th of the season to cut the Thunder advantage to 5-2.

Rudkowsky was pulled for an extra attacker which put Phoenix at a 6-on-4 skating situation with a power-play, when rookie Liam Reddox followed by breaking out of the penalty box with an empty-net goal with 1:54 remaining for an insurmountable 6-2 lead. Cam Paddock finished the scoring on a rebound goal with eight seconds left for Phoenix.

Dubnyk made 35 saves to improve his record to 13-5-6. Verbeek aided the Thunder with a goal and two assists.

Before the game, the Thunder activated defenseman Eric Main off the seven-day injured reserve list, placed left wing Adam Huxley on the three-day injured reserve list, and transferred defenseman Jeff Lang from the three-day to seven-day injured reserve list.

The Thunder returns home to Stockton Arena on Friday, February 2, with a 7:30 p.m. faceoff against the Bakersfield Condors. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing for a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Thunder season tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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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