Late-game heroics propel Aces to victory

Published on November 25, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Barrett Heisten's goal in the fifth shootout round lifted the Alaska Aces to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Stockton Thunder (10-1-3, 23 points) before 6,326 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The post-regulation loss snaps Stockton's five-game winning streak at home to begin the year.

With one point gained in the standings, the Thunder slides into a first place tie in the Pacific Division with the Las Vegas Wranglers, who were idle on Friday.

Thunder forward Stephen Slonina opened the scoring on the power-play at 4:04 of the first period, the beneficiary of a feed from defenseman Tim O'Connell from behind the Alaska net. Slonina slid the puck to the right of Aces goaltender Isaac Reichmuth to record his fourth goal on the season.

The second period saw both Stockton and Alaska begin to open up offensively. Just past the four minute mark, Thunder forwards Brendan Hodge and Adam Huxley crashed the Aces goal, but Reichmuth sprawled to prevent the puck from crossing the goal line. Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk was equal to the task, denying a pair of scoring chances by Aces forward Mike Scott, including a breakaway opportunity just shy of the mid-way point of the period.

Alaska, trailing 1-0 thru two periods of play, wasted no time staging a comeback in the final frame. At the 1:59 mark, Aces right-winger Kevin Croxton re-directed a Corbin Schmidt pass by Dubnyk to level the score at 1-1. Mid-period penalty trouble, however, left the Thunder with a 4-on-3 power-play. Thunder forward Brendan Hodge proceeded to collect a rebound off a Mike Lalonde wrist shot, beating Aces goaltender Isaac Reichmuth at the 14:39 mark for his second goal of the season.

With the Aces trailing 2-1 late in the third period, forward Kimbi Daniels leveled the score with 43 seconds remaining in regulation time. Daniels, the recipient of a drop-pass from forward Julian Talbot, beat Dubnyk from inside the right face-off circle for his 7th goal of the season.

Dubnyk, stellar throughout the contest, was tested on numerous occasions throughout the overtime period, turning aside Aces forward Corbin Schmidt's point-blank wrist shot from the slot position, before denying defenseman Peter Metcalf's opportunity in the crease to push the game into shootout stages.

The shootout decision moves Dubnyk's record to 6-1-2, while Nathan Martz picked up his eighth assist in three games for the Thunder.

The Thunder continues its season-long nine-game homestand on Saturday, November 25 against the Idaho Steelheads, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" rate at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Thunder season tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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.

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ECHL Stories from November 25, 2006


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