D'alvise's Pair Of Goals, Bryan Pitton's 40 Stops Helps Thunder Win Third Straight

Published on December 31, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Rookie center Chris D'Alvise scored a pair of goals and Bryan Pitton made 40 saves for his third consecutive win in net, boosting the Stockton Thunder (13-14-3, 29 points) to their third straight victory in a 5-1 rout of the Idaho Steelheads, before a crowd of 3,383 at Qwest Arena on Thursday night.

The Thunder, who earned their first victory over the National Conference-leading Steelheads in ten tries, received additional goal-scoring support from Judd Blackwater, Jason Pitton and J.F. Caudron. Michael Neal scored the only Idaho goal as the Steelheads suffered only their fifth loss at home this year.

The Thunder drew first blood on Blackwater's team-leading 14th goal of the season for a 1-0 lead, taking a re-directed puck off Ryan Constant's shot from the blueline and parking a wrist shot from below the hash marks, through the five-hole of goaltender Rejean Beauchemin.

D'Alvise lifted the Thunder lead to 2-0 at 7:16 of the second period when he took a drop pass by James Bates at the right circle, raced on goal and buried a snap shot under the crossbar for his ninth goal of the year.

Idaho got back in the game on Michael Neal's finishing of a Marty Flichel backdoor pass at the left goal post with 8:35 elapsed, cutting the deficit to 2-1 on his fourth goal of the year.

Jason Pitton caught a piece of Justin Dacosta's wrist shot from the high slot while setting a screen in front, setting momentum back to Stockton's way with his seventh goal of the year with 4:58 left in the period, putting the Thunder up 3-1.

Bryan Pitton made the save of the period, part of 21 stops when he stopped a point-blank bid by Patrick Asselin at the doorstep with a diving glove save.

The Thunder boosted their lead to 4-1 on D'Alvise's second goal of the game with 13:37 left in regulation, burying another snap shot from off the rush past Beauchemin's glove.

Following the goal, Idaho amped the pressure by funneling the puck toward the net but Pitton stood tall with 11 saves in the frame, setting up Caudron's empty net tally to seal the game, after Beauchemin was pulled for an extra attacker despite a three-goal deficit and four minutes remaining in the game.

Caudron picked up a blocked shot in his zone, carried the puck through Idaho's defense and buried a wrist shot from inside of the Idaho blueline with 2:55 left in the game for his eighth goal of the year.

Beauchemin took the loss, making 17 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Hunt (injured reserve), Steve Vanoosten (healthy), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Bobby Davey (injured reserve)... Stockton improved to 17-23-3 against Idaho, lifetime... Idaho outshot the Thunder, 41-22... Dacosta tallied two assists from the blueline... D'Alvise extended his goal-scoring streak to three games and now has four tallies in that span.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow to continue a four-game road trip, beginning at 6:10 p.m. against the Idaho Steelheads at Qwest Arena. 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/.

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