Morlang tallies hat trick, keeping Thunder winless at Save Mart Center

February 10, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - John Morlang tallied a hat trick to spark a rally of four unanswered goals for the Fresno Falcons, who dealt the Stockton Thunder (19-25-3, 41 points) a 4-1 setback before an announced crowd of 12,590 at Save Mart Center on Saturday night.

In front of the large crowd who were honoring Fresno's breast-cancer awareness event, defenseman Brian Lee sent a hoard of visiting Thunder fans into a frenzy with the game's first goal at the 4:05 mark of the first period, giving the Thunder a 1-0 lead as he followed up a rebound on Kris Mayotte's stop on Andy Contois, burying the loose disc through Mayotte's five-hole on a backhander from the left circle.

Thunder goaltender Tim Boron stopped all 12 Fresno shots in the first period, including a sequence of pad-sliding saves on Fresno's Matt Quinn and Kenny Bernard.

Fresno's special teams capitalized for a 2-1 lead over the Thunder through 40 minutes of play, beginning with a shorthanded goal by John Morlang - his 10th of the season - to tie the game at 1-1 just 3:05 into the period. After Boron was caught out of his net, P.O. Beaulieu gathered the puck at the left point and fed Morlang wide open in the slot, who buried the shot into an open net.

John Morlang's second goal of the game and 11th of the year put Fresno up 3-1 just 6:43 into the third period, burying a rebound on the left doorstep after Boron stopped Luke Curtin's drive from the right point. Morlang finished off the hat trick with 7:31 left in regulation, firing a wrist shot from the left point that deflected off traffic into the slot, changed directions and zoomed through the five-hole of Boron.

NOTES: Thunder were without Beau Geisler (injured reserve), Ryan Geris (injured reserve), Ryan MacMurchy (injury) and Adam Huxley (injured reserve) ... Fresno outshot the Thunder 36-31 ... the Thunder dropped to 5-15-3 in the all-time series and 0-9-1 lifetime at Save Mart Center.

The Thunder return to action on Wednesday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m., hosting the Las Vegas Wranglers at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and online (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to the 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 February 10, 2008


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