Justin Johnson's natural hat trick victimizes Thunder

February 7, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Justin Johnson registered a natural hat trick in the second period and combined with linemates Travis Rycroft and Christian Gaudet for nine points (3g-6a) to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Stockton Thunder (19-23-3, 41 points) to a 6-4 loss at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder, skating two men short while awaiting the arrival of rookie David Rohlfs (reassigned to the Thunder from AHL-affiliate Springfield) and new acquisition Jason Beeman (trade with Texas on Feb. 4), were led offensively by rookie Geoff Paukovich, who scored two goals to extend his goal-scoring streak to three consecutive games.

Utah's Olivier Labelle buried his 16th goal of the season just 2:42 into the game, putting the Grizzlies out front 1-0 with a rebound that was batted into the net while in mid-air with Thunder goaltender Tim Boron attempting a sprawling save. The Thunder responded with Paukovich's 11th goal of the season at the 6:46 mark for a power-play goal, ramming in a rebound on the doorstep after Utah goaltender Michael Mole stopped L.P. Lachance's drive from the high slot.

With 7:14 left in the period, Thunder rookie Tom Zanoski was awarded a penalty shot but his wrister from the slot was denied on Mole's glove save to preserve the 1-1 tie.

Veteran Tim Verbeek gave the Thunder its first lead of the game at 2-1 with 1:34 left in the second period, setting a screen in front of the net and deflecting defenseman Phil Cole's one-timer from the left point past the blocker of Mole.

Utah retaliated with a four-goal second period to take a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes. Defenseman James Sanford began the rally with his sixth goal of the year just 38 seconds into the second period, converting off the rush with a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Boron over the blocker.

Johnson began his run for the natural hat trick with his fifth goal of the season at the 7:17 mark of the second period, taking Christian Gaudet's drop pass and roofing a wrist shot off the crossbar and into the net from the mid-slot. The Thunder came back again with Zanoski's fourth goal of the season to knot the score at 3-3 with 9:59 left, finishing Ryan MacMurchy's centering pass at the doorstep.

Johnson scored his second of the game and sixth of the year as Utah reclaimed a 4-3 advantage just 1:07 later and gave the Grizzlies their biggest lead of the game through two periods on his hat trick goal with 6:29 left in the period for a 5-3 cushion. Johnson cut to the right side of the goal post, took Gaudet's feed from the mid-slot and tapped in the re-direction past Boron's glove.

Ryan Kinasewich scored his 11th goal of the season at the 7:55 mark of the third period to extend the Utah lead to 6-3, taking a drop pass in the slot from Keith Johnson and firing a wrist shot past Boron. Paukovich wrapped up the scoring with his 12th goal of the year with 2:18 left in regulation to help the Thunder cut the deficit to 6-4, stuffing a rebound past the outstretched glove of Mole after Paukovich's one-timer was stopped from point-blank range.

The Thunder outshot the Grizzlies 53-31 (a Thunder season-high in shots) for the game as Mole made 49 saves for Utah. Boron countered with 25 stops for Stockton.

NOTES: The Thunder missed the services of Beau Geisler (injured reserve), Ryan Geris (injured reserve) and Adam Huxley (injured reserve) ... the Thunder record moved to 8-8-3 all-time against Utah and is 1-3-1 in the season series ... Paukovich netted the second multi-goal game of his career ... MacMurchy's two-assist effort was his eighth multi-point game of the year and has a five-game scoring streak.

The Thunder returns to play on tomorrow with a 7:00 p.m. home game against the Victoria Salmon Kings from Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live exclusively online (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 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 February 7, 2008


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