Schwartz's clutch game-tying goal lifts the Thunder into the Kelly Cup Playoffs

April 5, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Center Brandon Schwartz's game-tying goal with 1:15 left in regulation forced overtime and officially clinched a Kelly Cup Playoff berth for the Stockton Thunder (27-40-5, 59 points), who ultimately settled for a 4-3 overtime loss to the Utah Grizzlies on Olivier Labelle's game-winning goal before 7,789 at The E-Center on Saturday, in the Thunder's regular season finale.

The Thunder captured the eighth and final playoff spot in the National Conference and will face the first seed and Pacific Division Champion Las Vegas Wranglers in a best-of-seven series, beginning with game 1 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round on Friday, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. from Orleans Arena. The complete head-to-head schedule between Stockton and Las Vegas will be announced on Sunday.

The Thunder finished two points ahead of ninth place Phoenix, who dropped a 4-3 loss to Las Vegas at Orleans Arena in the regular season finale.

Utah grabbed a 2-0 lead at the end of one period, beginning on Garrett Bembridge's game-opening goal at the 4:18 mark from Olivier Labelle. Bembridge took an outlet from Labelle and scored on the rush with a wrist shot from the right wing that trickled off Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher's left shoulder.

Rob Sirianni's 14th goal of the year put Utah up by two goals with 1:21 left in the first period, finishing a one-timer in the slot on a pass by Scott Burt from the left circle.

Sirianni's second goal of the game lifted Utah to a 3-0 cushion on a 5-on-3 goal with 44 seconds elapsed into the second period. Lance Monych netted his 32nd goal of the season at the 7:56 to get the Thunder on the scoreboard, trailing 3-1 on his wrist shot in the slot that zipped past Utah goaltender Nathan Lawson's glove side.

Ryan MacMurchy buried his 23rd goal of the season to draw the Thunder within a goal with 7:47 left in the second period, converting Jacob Micflikier's centering feed from behind the net and beating Lawson to the glove side.

A penalty-marred second period, which included a combined 65 penalty minutes between both teams, claimed MacMurchy on an Ian Forbes punch behind the net after a whistle stopped play. Forbes received a five-minute major and match penalty for attempt to injure, resulting in Forbes' ejection.

The third period resumed with a more controlled pace as Fisher made 14 saves to keep the Thunder in the game. With 90 seconds remaining in regulation, Fisher was pulled for an extra attacker for a 6-on-5 skating situation.

Schwartz knotted the score at 3-3 with the clutch tying goal, just one night after a game-winning goal over Utah with 14 seconds left in regulation. Schwartz set a screen in front of Lawson and re-directed a left point slapshot by Tim O'Connell past Lawson, sending the Thunder bench into eruption with 1:15 left in regulation.

After the Thunder milked the clock to ensure overtime and its Kelly Cup berth, Labelle netted the overtime winner for Utah with 1:36 remaining in the extra session when he corralled a deflected pass by Bembridge in the slot and hammered a slapshot past Fisher.

Fisher made 37 saves in the contest while the Thunder was offensively by O'Connell's two assists.



ECHL Stories from April 5, 2008


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