Pitton makes a career-high 42 saves, Neal buries eventual game-winner

Published on October 17, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Goaltender Bryan Pitton's career-high 42 saves fueled a Stockton Thunder rally, which fell shy by a goal while Evan Barlow and Michael Neal each had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 Thunder loss to the Idaho Steelheads before 3,553 fans at Qwest Arena on Saturday.

Pitton, who surpassed his previous career-high of 37 stops last season, was aided in the defeat by Thunder goals from James Bates and Judd Blackwater. Idaho's offensive support came from Barlow, Neal and veteran Ashton Rome.

The Thunder killed off eight power-plays from the Steelheads end and have thwarted their opponents in a 12-for-13 penalty kill effort in the first two games.

Idaho got off to a fast start by collecting most of its shots from the front of the net with a 12-2 advantage and grabbed a 2-0 lead after the first period. Barlow scored his second goal in as many games at 3:22 when he finished off a flurry of Idaho scoring chances with a one-timer at the doorstep.

With 8:37 left, Rome scored off the rush for his first goal of the season after a Thunder penalty expired, taking Marty Flichel's re-directed pass at the base of the right circle and beating Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton with a snap shot under the crossbar.

Pitton helped turn aside a three-minute major power-play in the second period following a knee penalty issued to Luis Tremblay, and the Thunder capitalized off the momentum with James Bates' first goal of the season with 4:07 left to cut the Idaho lead in half. Bates took a feed from Ryan Constant and cut into the slot, slipping a wrist shot through the five-hole of Rejean Beauchemin.

Pitton stopped 18 shots by Idaho in the second period.

Despite a swarming Thunder attack around the Idaho net, it was Idaho who captured the game's next momentum-swinging goal on Michael Neal's breakaway with 4:50 left in regulation when he stole a bouncing puck at center ice and beat Pitton under the crossbar.

The Thunder played off a string of penalties and scored on a 5-on-4 extra-attacker, man-advantage situation with three seconds left in the game when Blackwater re-directed Chris D'Alvise's right point shot past Beauchemin's blocker side while positioned at the doorstep.

Beauchemin took his second consecutive win with a 24-save effort.

Both teams end the three-game series on Sunday at 6:10 p.m. at Qwest Arena. The game can be heard on radio at 1420 KSTN and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge). The Thunder home opener is Friday, Oct. 23 against the Ontario Reign at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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/.

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