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Ellsworth backstops Thunder in 36 save effort

February 22, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Cam Ellsworth turned aside 36 shots, and left-winger Tim Sestito scored the game-winning goal 26 seconds into the third period to lead the Stockton Thunder (22-16-10, 54 points) to a 2-1 win over the Bakersfield Condors before 4,107 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder victory snaps a five-game winless streak.

A relatively fast-paced first period saw the Condors open the scoring at the sixteen minute mark, seconds after a Bakersfield 2-man advantage expired. Condors forward Scott Venedam capitalized on the extra ice in the Thunder zone to maneuver in behind Ellsworth, and feed a streaking Kevin St. Jacques who beat a sprawling Ellsworth low to lift Bakersfield to a 1-0 advantage. The goal, a power-play marker, was St. Jacques' 17th thus far this season.

Ellsworth turned aside 15 of the 16 shots he faced in the opening frame, including a pair of pad saves on Condors center Alex Kim and right-winger Josh Liebenow respectively.

The Thunder offence was relentless in the opening minutes of the second period in search of the tying goal. Thunder left-winger Mike Lalonde and right-winger Tim Verbeek tested Condors goaltender Jamie Hodson with quality body shots from the slot early on, only to be denied. Stockton's aggressiveness would prove fruitful, however, as Thunder center Jim Dahl tied the score at 1-1 at the 5:08 mark of the second period, converting a tape-to-tape one-time feed from right-winger Stephane Goulet that beat Hodson five-hole. Goulet's goal was his 11th on the season.

Ellsworth would be called upon to preserve the tie when Condors center Todd Griffith evaded the Stockton defense and went 1-on-1 with the Stockton netminder in the latter stages of the period. Ellsworth responded with left pad save, as Griffith tried to beat him along the ice.

Just 26 seconds into the third period, Stockton's offensive zone pressure would force the Bakersfield defense to turn the puck over to the right of Hodson. Thunder left-winger Adam Huxley corralled the loose puck, and fed Sestito in front of the Condor net. Sestito's back-hand beat Hodson glove-side to put the Thunder up 2-1.

Ellsworth would thwart the Condors final minute game-tying efforts, stopping a Todd Griffith one-time shot attempt point blank with 20 seconds remaining in regulation time to earn the victory.

Tim Sestito's third period goal snapped a 13-game goal scoring drought.

Before the game, the Thunder placed right wing Mathieu Melanson on the three-day injured reserve list.

The Thunder now embarks on a four-game road trip, beginning on Friday, February 23 with a 5:30 p.m. game against the Texas Wildcatters at Ford Arena. 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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