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Series tied 2-2 after the Thunder nearly battles back

April 10, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAS VEGAS - Chris Francis scored a pair of goals while Judd Blackwater chipped in with two assists to help the Las Vegas Wranglers hold off the Thunder, 5-2 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal on Tuesday at Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas has tied the series 2-2, setting up Game 5 on Wednesday in Nevada. Thunder fans are guaranteed one more home game in the series with Game 6 set for Friday in Stockton.

Nik Pokulok and Matt Reber earned the Thunder goals in the first period, nearly erasing an early 3-0 deficit.

STOCKTON VS. LAS VEGAS- WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS (all times listed PT)

(Series tied, 2-2)

Game 1: Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

Game 2: Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

Game 3: Stockton 0 at Las Vegas 3

Game 4: Stockton 2 at Las Vegas 5

Game 5: Stockton at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 10 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena)

Game 6: Las Vegas at Stockton - Friday, April 12 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 7: Las Vegas at Stockton - Sunday, April 14 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *

*If necessary

Carlo Finucci started a run of three unanswered Wranglers goals at 5:08 of the first period and Marc Cantin followed with a power play goal with 12:01 left when he buried a wrister from the right point.

Francis then chased starting Thunder goaltender Olivier Roy with a bid from between the hash marks to make it 3-0 with 10:13 remaining, and the Thunder called timeout to neutralize momentum.

Tyler Bunz took over and the Thunder responded, beginning on Pokulok's first goal with the Thunder at 10:41 with a clean wrister from the left circle. Reber followed by finishing a give-and-go play in the slot with Maxime Boisclair, and the Thunder battled back into the game at a 3-2 deficit with 2:27 left in the period.

Bunz and counterpart Joe Fallon followed by matching saves through the second period and the Thunder nearly missed on a game tying effort on the opening shift, with Eric Hunter nearly completing a backdoor feed at the right post as he slid towards the net.

Francis restored the Wranglers lead with a key insurance goal with 17:05 left in regulation. Scott Pitt closed the game with an empty net goal, coming with 27 seconds left.

Fallon earned the win with 31 saves while Roy took the loss on six stops. Bunz made 20 saves in relief.

NOTES: Andrew Clark, who was suspended for one game after his checking from behind penalty in Game 3, was the only Thunder scratch ... the Thunder were blanked at an 0-of-6 clip on the power play ... Las Vegas went 2-of-8 ... the Thunder fell to 5-5 lifetime in Game 4 scenarios.

The pivotal Game 5 is tomorrow at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, beginning at 7:05 p.m. (1360 AM KFIV/StocktonThunder.com).

A two time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets, Group Tickets and Mini-Plans for 2012-13 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

THREE STARS:

1. LV - C. Francis

2. LV - J. Blackwater

3. LV - M. Cantin

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