Pepperall collects 400th career pro point

March 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The Stockton Thunder (32-22-10, 74 points) extended its winning streak to a team-record tying and season-high tying five consecutive games, benefiting from a three-goal third period rally to cruise to a 5-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies before 3,566 at The E-Center on Friday night.

The Thunder is now tied for fifth place in the National Conference with idle Fresno and leads the season series over Utah at a 5-1-0 clip.

Left wing Brock Radunske continued his scoring tear with the game's first goal just 6:26 into the contest, netting his ninth of the year to extend his scoring streak to eight consecutive games. Radunske broke down the right wing on a 2-on-1 rush and sniped a wrist shot from the circle past Utah goaltender Rob McVicar's glove.

Rookie Mathieu Melanson scored his 13th goal of the season at 10:57 to hike the Thunder lead to 2-0, corralling a Radunske rebound with McVicar down. Melanson deked toward the backhand and slid the puck into an open-net. Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk stoned Utah on all 11 shots in the first frame.

The Thunder rode a three-goal spurt in the second period for a commanding 5-1 lead through two frames, as Utah's Travis Rycroft began the period's scoring at 2:02 with his eighth goal of the season. Just 3:43 later, Colin Pepperall collected his 400th point of his professional career on his fifth goal of the season while on a power-play, taking a cross-ice feed and beating McVicar from the right circle for a 3-1 Thunder lead.

Rookie Stephane Goulet scored his 15th goal of the year just 48 seconds later to push the Stockton advantage to 4-1, caroming a point-shot by defenseman Tim O'Connell by McVicar while planted in front of the goal. At the 14:10 mark, veteran Jason Beckett scored his fourth goal of the year to push the lead to four, connecting on a give-and-go from Pepperall and ripping a wrist shot by McVicar's glove from the right circle.

Both teams played to a scoreless third period draw, as Dubnyk closed the game with 14 third period saves, totaling 33 for the game to push his record to 20-10-7. Dubnyk is now 5-0-0 in his last five appearances.

Goulet is now riding a six-game scoring streak, while Pepperall has scored at least a point in all eight games with the Thunder this season.

Before the game, the Thunder placed center Nathan Martz on the three-day injured reserve list and activated right wing David Herring off the three-day injured reserve list.



ECHL Stories from March 23, 2007


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