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MacMurchy's overtime goal lifts Thunder to sixth win in eight games

January 12, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Ryan MacMurchy scored two goals, including the game-winner 59 seconds into sudden-death overtime to help boost the Stockton Thunder (16-16-2, 34 points) to its sixth win in eight games and a 4-3 overtime victory over the host Alaska Aces before 4,314 at Sullivan Arena on Friday night.

The Thunder, who is 6-2-0 in its last eight games and elevated Head Coach Chris Cichocki to one win shy of 200 in his coaching career, has won three in a row for the first time since a five-game winning stretch that occurred Oct. 24-Nov.6. MacMurchy's two-goal output gave the former Alaska right winger his sixth multi-point game this season and is riding a seven-game scoring streak, scoring 15 points (9g-6a) in that span.

In total, MacMurchy has scored six points (3g-3a) in four games against his former club this season.

The Thunder went ahead 1-0 with 10:22 gone in the first period on MacMurchy's team-leading 12th goal of the season, taking advantage of a screen set in front of the net by re-directing a right point slapshot by L.P. Lachance past the glove of Alaska goaltender Kris Tebbs. Matt Robinson responded with a power-play goal just 54 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1 on a one-timer at the right circle, set-up by a rinkwide pass from Bo Cheesman.

Rookie David Rohlfs quickly restored the Thunder lead at 2-1 with 5:14 left in the first period while on a semi-breakaway, finishing Fredrik Johansson's outlet pass from the right wing and zipping a wrist shot from the right circle past Tebbs' glove.

All-star rookie Josh Soares brought Alaska back to a 2-2 tie with 7:35 left in the second period on a power-play goal from tight range. Soares re-directed Peter Metcalf's sliding shot from the high slot past the glove of Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher, who was pre-occupied with a screen in front of the net.

Rohlfs scored his second goal of the game and ninth of the season for a 3-2 Thunder lead at the third period's 12:09 mark, burying a rebound on the doorstep after Tebbs denied Johansson's slapshot from the right wing. Alaska responded with its third power-play goal of the game on Soares' second goal of the contest and 16th of the season for a 3-3 tie with 5:59 left, re-directing Olivier Filion's backdoor pass from the high-slot with a one-timer that beat Fisher from the base of the right circle.

MacMurchy ended the game in the extra session with his 13th goal of the season when he connected on Brad Farynuk's outlet pass from the Thunder defensize zone, drove past Alaska's Kimbi Daniels from the left wing and beat Tebbs with a wrist shot through the five-hole after cutting to the front of the net.

Fisher stopped 20 shots in his fifth consecutive start to earn his ninth win of the season.

NOTES: After entering the year with an all-time record of 1-8-3 against Alaska, Friday's win boosted the Thunder season series record to 5-2-0 against the Aces and is guaranteed no worse than a split in the 10-game set ... Johansson had two assists for the first multi-point game of his career ... the Thunder overall record has climbed to the .500 mark for the first time since November 14 ... Thunder defenseman Mark Adamek returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games (flu) ... right wing Spencer Carbery was scratched from the game due to injury (lower-body) and is listed as day-to-day.

The Thunder returns to play with the final regular season matchup against Alaska at Sullivan Arena on Saturday, starting at 8:15 p.m. The game can be heard live exclusively on the internet (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 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.



ECHL Stories from January 12, 2008


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