Koskinen's 37 stops, Nikiforov's three points give Utah two weekend wins

Published on March 21, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Vlady Nikiforov scored a goal and added two assists while goaltending prospect Mikko Koskinen stopped 37 shots to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Stockton Thunder (30-26-9, 69 points) to a 5-2 defeat before a crowd of 5,432 at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

The Thunder, who maintained a tie for fifth place in the conference with the idle Las Vegas Wranglers, suffered just their fourth loss in regulation in the last 21 home games (13-4-4). Chris D'Alvise and James Bates scored for the Thunder, while Tim Crowder chipped in with a pair of goals for the Grizzlies, who took the regular season series from Stockton (7-2-1).

D'Alvise hit the 30-goal plateau at 3:29 of the first period for a 1-0 Thunder lead, sliding in a wrap-around to the forehand after he successfully collected a long outlet pass from Matt Robinson.

Utah tied the score by capitalizing on a Thunder defensive turnover, when Vlady Nikiforov fed Tom May in the slot for a wrist shot that beat Andrew Perugini to the blocker side.

The Thunder were dominant in the scoring chance category and outshot Utah 15-7 in the second period, but Koskinen, drafted by the New York Islanders 31st overall last summer, buoyed the Grizzlies with a series of point-blank saves on Robinson, Oren Eizenman and D'Alvise. Utah capitalized with two goals in the period for a 3-1 lead, beginning with a Tim Crowder slapshot from the right wing with 1:35 into the period.

With just 0.4 seconds left, Dylan Hunter converted A.J. Perry's centering pass from the right wing and slipped it past Perugini's stick side for the two goal cushion.

Bates' goal got the Thunder to within a goal with 10:59 left in the game, when he took Trevor Hunt's keep-in at the left circle and blasted a snap shot past Koskinen's blocker side.

Utah seized momentum on back-to-back goals from Crowder and Nikiforov, putting the game away. Crowder's second of the game boosted the Utah lead to 4-2 with 7:06, when he finished Lance Galbraith's threaded center pass from behind the net.

Sixsmith then sprung Nikiforov on a breakaway with 4:11 left in the game to hike the score to 5-2 when Nikiforov scored on a wrist shot inside the left post.

Perugini took the loss with 17 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched J.F. Caudron (injured reserve), Igor Gongalsky (injured, day-to-day), Matt O'Dette (healthy) and Craig Valette (injured reserve)... D'Alvise became the second player in Thunder history to hit the 30-goal plateau (Ryan Huddy, 2008-09)... his goal and assist gave him 16 points (5g-11a) in the last eight games... the Thunder were blanked 0-for-5 on the power-play and went scoreless with the man advantage for the second time in eight games.

The Thunder continues the seven-game homestand with its next game on Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Las Vegas Wranglers at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online exclusively 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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