Perugini makes 26 saves to help Stockton snap four-game losing skid

February 26, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 26 saves to help the Stockton Thunder break a four-game losing skid, defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers 3-2 before a crowd of 3,635 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

David Rohlfs, Damian Surma and Cory Urquhart each scored for the Thunder while Ryan MacMurchy paced the offense with two assists. In his first game back from the American Hockey League, Igor Gongalsky tallied an assist. Las Vegas was aided offensively by goals from veteran Peter Ferraro and Tim Spencer.

Las Vegas goaltender Glenn Fisher, on loan from the AHL's Springfield Falcons and who was a Thunder goaltender in 2007-08, made his first return to Stockton Arena since March 2007 and took the loss with 33 saves.

Ferraro opened the scoring with his 13th goal of the season just 41 seconds into the game, burying a one-timer from the slot past Perugini's stick on a feed by Hugo Carpentier at the right circle.

The Thunder, who began a four-game homestand, quickly answered with right wing David Rohlfs' fifth goal of the season, who put a backhander from the deep slot past his ex-teammate Fisher with 4:46 gone to knot the score at 1-1. Surma then put the Thunder ahead 2-1 for his eighth goal of the year, stickhandling around the Las Vegas defense at the left circle and firing a snap shot over Fisher's glove with 4:30 left in the period.

Urquhart's 23rd goal of the season stood as the eventual game-winner with 10:31 left in the second period, hiking the Thunder lead to 3-1. Gongalsky forced a turnover at the neutral zone and fed Urquhart for a two-on-one rush. Urquhart snapped a shot from the left circle that beat Fisher through the five-hole.

Among Perugini's 26 saves was a highlight-reel stop in the third period on defenseman Tim Makway, whose snap shot from the slot on a 3-on-1 break was turned aside by Perugini's kick save with the right pad.

Las Vegas crept to within a goal on Spencer's fourth of the season with 8:25 left in the game on a snap shot that beat Perugini under the crossbar, but the Thunder staved off Las Vegas' final attack with a physical brand of play in the defensive zone.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve) and Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), Mike Lalonde (injured reserve) and Cleve Kinley (suspension) ... Las Vegas played without newly-acquired forward Dan Riedel, who was traded from Dayton on Wednesday morning ... the Thunder won its sixth game in 23 lifetime meetings against Las Vegas and improved to 2-1-0 this season against their Pacific Division counterparts ... MacMurchy tallied his fifth multi-point game this year.

The Thunder returns to play at home on Friday, Jan. 27 against the Idaho Steelheads, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN and for viewing online (audio is free-of-charge) for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.



ECHL Stories from February 26, 2009


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