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Kuhn keeps Thunder at bay with 36 save shutout, Roy stops 30 shots

January 25, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Jerry Kuhn turned away all 36 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season, outdueling Olivier Roy and helping the Idaho Steelheads send the Stockton Thunder (18-18-4, 40 points) to a 1-0 defeat at Century Link Arena on Wednesday.

The Thunder, playing their fifth game in six days, settled for a two game series split in spite of Roy's 30 saves, including 16 in the third period. Kuhn kept the Thunder at bay with a series of close range saves including a dramatic game-saving stop on Kevin Baker at the right post with 15 seconds left in regulation.

Matt Case's second period goal stood as the game winner.

"I thought we played a solid game," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "We didn't score but it wasn't from a lack of chances or hard work. Their goaltender was phenomenal and ours was very good. The difference was one shot which found a way to get in the back of the net. We ran out of gas in the third period, but I'm happy with how the guys worked."

Both teams played to a scoreless tie in the first period and newcomer Max Campbell got involved early with a scoring chance, but Kuhn turned his one timer away from the right circle with a glove stop.

For the second straight game, Idaho scored the first goal. Case's second of the season - only his second point in the previous 13 games - came at the 3:46 mark of the second period when he received Tyson Hobbins' faceoff win at the right point and snuck a wrist shot through a screen.

Kuhn stopped all 13 Thunder shots in the second period, highlighted by a snap shot by Chris Doyle from off the rush and a follow up rebound by Baker.

In the third period, Kuhn upheld the one goal margin in the early minutes after stopping a Mike Little wrist shot and follow up from the right circle.

The Thunder earned a 4-on-3 power play in the middle of the period but was unable to convert, with the biggest chance coming on a Baker one timer that was missed wide from the left circle.

In the final moments, Kuhn made his biggest save of the game on Baker with his left pad, stopping a re-direction at the right post that was set up by another newcomer - Matt Reber - and his feed from the left wing.

In their first game with Stockton, Campbell registered three shots on goal and Reber put two on net. Both were acquired in separate trades on Tuesday.

"I liked both of them," said Thomas. "They were both coming off lengthy layoffs for different reasons. With that in mind, I thought they played well and they gave us energy."

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Ryan Martindale (injured, day to day), Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Jason Morgan (injured reserve), Sebastian Owuya (healthy) and Thomas Heemskerk (injured reserve) ... the Thunder dropped to 2-3-0 in the head to head series ... the Thunder killed off all three Idaho power plays and were blanked, 0-for-4 on their man advantage.

The Thunder returns to play on Friday to begin a three game homestand against the Alaska Aces, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game will be carried on radio at 1280 KWSX and online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2011-12 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/ .

THREE STARS

1. IDH - 35 Jerry Kuhn

2. IDH - 33 Matt Case

3. STK - 31 Olivier Roy



ECHL Stories from January 25, 2012


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