Howes' game winner helps the Thunder in preseason sweep over Aces

October 7, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Left winger Scott Howes snapped a 1-1 tie with a game-winning goal coming with 12:02 left in the third period, helping lift the Stockton Thunder to a 2-1 preseason victory over the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder, who improved to 2-0 and swept the Aces in a two-game series at Sullivan Arena to open the preseason schedule, were aided by rookie goaltender Jason Lindner's 35 saves. Marcus Watson also chipped in with a goal.

"It's important to know that most of these games are low scoring, because chemistry is a work in progress," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "But what I really liked in these last two games is our ability to score big, timely goals. We scored late at 'The Sully' - a tough thing to do. We're doing a great job with paying attention to detail and playing within the system. We're competing very well."

Watson helped the Thunder draw first blood for the second straight night at 6:55 of the first period. Craig Valette and Jordan Foreman executed the play with a nifty wing-to-wing, one touch pass, with the former Ace forward Foreman setting up from inside the right circle. He re-directed a backdoor feed to Watson, who parked the pass into an open net.

Alaska leveled the game on Brian Swanson's first goal of the preseason, a breakaway set up by Garry Nunn with 14:34 left in the second period.

At the halfway point of the period, Chris Lawrence was robbed from between the hash marks on Gerald Coleman's glove save. Right winger Jim McKenzie slid a pass from the left goal line to Lawrence, whose wrist shot was ticketed for the upper right corner of the net but found its way into Coleman's glove.

The first goal of the postseason for Howes with 12:02 left in regulation put the Thunder back in the lead at 2-1, when he collected a loose puck between the circles and banged the rebound over the blocker of Coleman.

The Thunder thwarted a last minute rally by the Aces, who pulled Coleman for an extra attacker, which included a misfired wrist shot by newcomer Wes Goldie and a rebound stop by Lindner with 30.8 seconds left.

Coleman, making his preseason debut, took the loss by making 20 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Anthony Aiello, Fraser Clair, Aaron Clarke and Daryl Marcoux ... Lawrence was stopped on a penalty shot by Coleman in the third period ... t he Thunder blanked Alaska's power-play on 10 attempts ... Valette and Foreman picked up an assist each for the second straight game ... Alaska closed out a brief preseason schedule at 0-2 ... Foreman also dropped the gloves for the second straight game, squaring off with Alaska's T.J. Battani with 13:05 left in the first period.

Stockton will face the Ontario Reign next in the only preseason home game at Stockton Arena, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Online coverage will be carried at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (AmericaOne). Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 15, when the Thunder opens the 2010-11 regular season at home against the Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joa quin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season Tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for 2010-11 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.



ECHL Stories from October 7, 2010


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