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Las Vegas Tops Stockton, 3-2

April 14, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


Thunder victimized by improbable Las Vegas rally, fall into 2-1 series hole STOCKTON, Calif. - The Las Vegas Wranglers scored two goals in the final 1:15 of regulation to pose an improbable comeback, finished by Aki Seitsonen's shorthanded game-winning goal with 12.8 seconds left to send the Stockton Thunder to a shocking 3-2 loss in game 3 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round, in front of a crowd of 5,053 at Stockton Arena on Sunday night.

Las Vegas has a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven series and knotted the score with 1:15 left in the third period on Tyler Mosienko's game-tying goal while the Wranglers pulled goaltender Kevin Lalande for an extra attacker.

#8 STOCKTON VS. #1 LAS VEGAS - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS Game 1: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 2 Game 2: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 5 (OT) Game 3: Las Vegas 3 at Stockton 2 Game 4: at Stockton - Friday, April 18 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) Game 5: at Stockton - Sunday, April 20 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) Game 6: at Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 22 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) *

Game 7: at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 23 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) * * If necessary

The Thunder scored first at the 15:38 mark of the first period with the goal coming from Ryan O'Marra for his first professional playoff goal. O'Marra re-directed a wrist shot by Brad Farynuk from the right point past the blocker side of Lalande.

Thunder goaltender Tim Boron held the Wranglers scoreless in the first period with 13 saves, part of a 44-save effort in the game.

Kelly Czuy scored his first goal of the playoffs to knot the score at 1-1 with six minutes elapsed into the second period, converting a rebound into a half-open net after Boron stopped a point-blank chance by Adam Cracknell in the slot. The Thunder answered right back, on Jacob Micflikier's second goal of the playoffs with 9:12 left in the middle period. Micflikier buried a rebound behind Lalande after the Wranglers goaltender juggled a snap shot by Stephane Goulet from the left circle.

The Thunder eluded a series of Wrangler power-plays in the third period, protecting its one-goal lead before an interference penalty was issued to Brian Lee on a Tyler Mosienko check with nearly two minutes remaining. With the Thunder scoring an extra-attacker goal late in the third period just 24 hours previously, Las Vegas turned the tables on Mosienko's game-tying marker when he buried a centering pass from Ryan Donally between the hash marks.

The Thunder responded and worked the puck in deep while Las Vegas took a delayed penalty and Brandon Schwartz apparently lifted the Thunder to a late 3-2 lead when Schwartz played a glanced puck off the skate of Las Vegas' Peter Ferraro and buried a wrist shot from the base of the left circle.

The goal was waved off and the game stayed tied. Las Vegas followed and capitalized on a shorthanded rush on Seitsonen's slapshot from the right circle for the eventual game-winner.

NOTES: Before the game, the Thunder activated defenseman Phil Cole and right wing David Rohlfs off injured reserve, placed defenseman Joe Dustin and left wing Tom Zanoski on three-day injured reserve and placed left wing Luke Lynes on seven-day injured reserve, while center Fredrik Johansson was scratched (healthy) ... Boron's 44-save effort gave him 124 combined saves in the first three playoff games ... Micflikier and O'Marra eached scored two points (1g-1a) to lead the Thunder offense.

The series takes a four-day break and both teams return for game 4 at Stockton Arena on Friday, April 13 starting at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and is available on the internet (video and audio) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 and 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages are now on sale and individual ticket information for the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be announced soon. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.

-- RATED "E" FOR EXCITEMENT --

THREE STARS: 1. LV - 18 Aki Seitsonen 2. STK - 22 Ryan O'Marra 3. STK - 9 Jacob Micflikier

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