MacMurchy Scores Lone Goal in 3-1 Lose to Victoria

Published on November 9, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Todd Ford made 24 saves to help the Victoria Salmon Kings send the Stockton Thunder (4-5-0, 8 points) to a 3-1 loss before a sellout crowd of 9,737 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

"Thunder Goes Pink III" ended with both teams splitting the two-game series and the Thunder lifetime record in the series moved to 5-1-0. The Thunder drew a combined 17,764 fans for the two games, which were played on a pink-tinted ice surface. For each night, $2 sold to each ticket benefited American Cancer Society - Stockton Field Office and the St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Cancer Services.

Ryan MacMurchy scored the lone goal for Stockton while Victoria countered with goal each from Olivier Filion, Curtis Billsten and Shawn Landolt.

Both teams played through a scoreless first period as rookie Bryan Pitton stopped 10 shots for the Thunder and Ford denied six for Victoria. Filion opened the scoring with 14:51 left in the second period for his first goal of the year when he received Scott Howes' centering pass and found the back of the net with a wrist shot that glanced off Pitton's arm.

Billsten's second goal of the season at 12:10 of the period boosted Victoria's lead to 2-0 on a slapshot from the right circle. Veteran Tim Wedderburn picked up the lone assist.

The Thunder steered momentum in their direction with MacMurchy's second goal of the season on a 5-on-3 power-play with 2:33 left in the period, cutting the deficit to 2-1. MacMurchy helped set a screen in front of the goal and re-directed Neil Petruic's one-timer past Ford.

Wedderburn's delay-of-game penalty with 1:49 left in regulation gave the Thunder a 6-on-4 skating advantage with Pitton pulled from his net. After a barrage of close-range chances, Shawn Landolt jumped on a loose puck at center ice and sealed the game with an empty net goal for Victoria at 19:57.

Pitton made 24 saves in the losing cause.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Milan Maslonka (injured reserve) and Cory Urquhart (injury, day-to-day)... the Thunder is now 10-12-3 against Victoria all-time and 3-2-0 in the season series ... the Thunder combined to blank Victoria's power-play at an 0-for-14 clip in the two games ... Stockton finished 1-for-8 on the power-play on Saturday.

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