Martz burns former team for three points, Lalonde posts two on birthday

Published on December 2, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Center Nathan Martz scored a game-winning goal and added two assists, while left wing Mike Lalonde celebrated his 26th birthday with a goal and assist as the Stockton Thunder (11-1-4, 26 points) set a new team record with an eight-game unbeaten streak, in a 3-1 win over the Long Beach Ice Dogs before 4,847 at Stockton Arena on Friday.

Stockton, who maintains the league's best winning percentage (.813) with only one regulation loss through its first 16 games, is 5-0-3 on the eight game stretch and has beaten Long Beach in all four meetings this season.

Lalonde opened the scoring at the 17:44 mark of the first period, converting a tape-to-tape pass from Martz that beat Ice Dogs goaltender Mike Brown high on the glove side to give Stockton a 1-0 lead. It was Lalonde's eighth goal thus far this season. The Ice Dogs, bogged down in their zone for much of the opening frame, managed just three shots on Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth through the opening 20 minutes.

The Thunder would double their advantage late in the second period, as Martz collected a loose puck in front of a helpless Brown, and slid the puck under the Long Beach netminder to give Stockton a 2-0 advantage at the 15:21 mark. Martz's goal, a power-play tally, was his fifth goal on the season. The Thunder held the Ice Dogs to just seven shots in the period, with Ellsworth turning aside Long Beach forward Mark Hurtubise's short-handed breakaway attempt which threatened to level the score at 1-1.

Long Beach squeezed to within a 2-1 deficit while nursing a power-play when Brad Bonello scored in his first game with the Ice Dogs at the 10:46 mark of the third period, roofing a wrist shot from the right circle over Ellsworth's glove. Brown was pulled for an extra attacker late in the game, with center Brendon Hodge capitalizing on the empty net goal with less than a second remaining in the game to finish the 3-1 score.

Ellsworth made 12 saves for the game to run his record to an unbeaten 5-0-1 mark for Stockton. Martz has now collected 11 assists in his last five games.

The Thunder continues its season-long nine-game homestand on Saturday, December 2 against the Utah Grizzlies, 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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Three Stars:

1. STK - Nathan Martz

2. STK - Mike Lalonde

3. LB - Mike Brown

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