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Hayes Scores Again But Thunder Fall 4-1

March 29, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Ryan Hayes scored the lone Thunder goal as the Idaho Steelheads are able to beat the Thunder for the second straight time at Stockton Arena.

The struggles for the Thunder continued Friday night at Stockton Arena as they were defeated for the second straight time by the Idaho Steelheads by the final score of 4-1.

Just like the first meeting this week, Idaho scored first with a late first period goal from forward Justin Mercier. Following the turnover by Thunder forward Joey Martin, Idaho demonstrated they passing skill set, ending with the slap-shot from Mercier beating Thunder goaltender Parker Milner.

Idaho again scored only 2:30 later with a power-play goal from forward Tommy Grant. The Idaho forward threaded the needle above Milner's glove to beat the Thunder netminder top-shelf to give his team the early 2-0 lead.

"I thought we started okay and then they got the two goals and I think after the second goal we seemed to lose a little bit of our focus," said Head Coach Rich Kromm. "I think were a fragile club right now and I think that showed after the second goal.

The Thunder were held scoreless until 3:24 left in the second period when forward Ryan Hayes beat Idaho goaltender Josh Robinson. The Hayes tally was set up forward Joey Diamond who stole the puck after checking off the Idaho defenseman behind the Idaho net.

Diamond then wrapped around the net to give Hayes the puck for the easy back-door tap in. Hayes was the only Thunder player to score for the second straight game, accounting for the last three Thunder goals.

From that point on, the game was controlled by Idaho as they connected two more times, ending the night with 4 goals, just as they did on Wednesday.

The third goal of the night for Idaho came on the power play, just as Grant's did earlier in the first period. With forward Alan Quine in the box for holding, the Thunder penalty kill produced a shorthanded chance.

Unfortunately for the Thunder the chance came up empty and defenseman Sean Escobedo was tripped up behind the play. Idaho would capitalize on the ensuing counter attack with forward Jason Bast connecting for the first of his two goals.

In the third period, Bast wrapped up the scoring for the night when he collected his second goal off the feed from Mercier. Bast made the acrobatic stop and flicked the puck past Milner to increase the lead to three.

Milner ended the night surrendering 4 goals on 23 shots faced but made some incredible saves on breakaway chances that keep the Thunder close for much of the game.

After the loss the Thunder now make their way down I-5 to face the Ontario Reign Saturday with puck drop scheduled for 6:00 p.m. When they finish that game, the team will bus right back up and finish their regular season series with the Idaho Steelheads on Sunday, a 4:00 p.m. showdown in Stockton Arena.

The Thunder's next home game on Sunday will be another Family Day were fans can purchase their Thunder Pride Packs featuring four Upper End Zone tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for $38. Purchase your pack online to receive a Thunder hat at no additional charge!

Wednesday's home game will be the final Family Day of the season with the added bonus of the first 3,500 fans receiving a special edition "Uncle Garet" trading card.

Then the Thunder open up Military Appreciation Weekend on April 4th and 5th with the first 3,500 fans in the building receiving a "Thunderized" WWII propaganda poster on Friday night, and then on Saturday's game the team will be giving away Thunder military inspired caps to the first 1,500 fans 13-years-old and over.

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