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Stefanishion's late goal thwarts Thunder comeback attempt

March 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Matt Stefanishion's goal with 8:06 left in regulation snapped a 3-3 tie and helped the Fresno Falcons send the Stockton Thunder (24-33-3, 51 points) to 4-3 loss before a crowd of 7,058 at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

Rookie Fredrik Johansson led the Thunder with two points (1g-1a) for the second multi-point game of his career, while Fresno was led by Josh Prudden's goal and assist, Brady Leisenring's goal and assist and Oren Eizenman's two-assist effort.

Brady Leisenring's 23rd goal of the season gave Fresno a 1-0 lead just 4:34 into the game, converting a one-timer in the slot from Prudden's pass in the left corner. Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher kept the game at a one-goal pace through the first 20 minutes, stopping 12 shots which included a thwarting of a Fresno 5-on-3 advantage for 48 seconds.

Fresno struck early in the second again, at the 1:45 mark, on a score by Mike Ramsay for his 16th goal of the season. Eizenman intercepted pass against the right wing boards and fed Ramsay, who darted into the middle of the ice and beat Fisher with a backhanded shot.

The Thunder struck back in the second period with their first goal of the game coming at the 14:02 mark on veteran Phil Cole's first goal of the season, cutting the Fresno lead down to one as he converted a pass from the right corner by Joel Stepp.

Fresno's lead evaporated soon as the Thunder struck again on the power-play only 1:18 later on Tom Zanoski's ninth goal of the season, with the assist coming from Geoff Paukovich and Tim O' Connell, tying the game 2-2. Zanoski's attempted pass from the right corner re-directed off the skate of Fresno's Kenny Bernard in the low slot and through the five-hole of goaltender Kris Mayotte.

At the 18:04 mark, Josh Prudden put Fresno ahead 3-2 with a power-play goal, his fourth of the year on a wrist shot from the left circle.

In the third period the Thunder made it interesting, scoring on a slapshot by Johansson, his third of the season, assisted by Ryan MacMurchy and Brian Lee which tied the game again at 3-3. MacMurchy's wrist shot from the right circle was kicked out by Mayotte to the left wing and Johansson picked up the rebound, followed by a 25-foot slapshot that beat Mayotte to the blocker side.

Fresno broke the tie on Stefanishion's goal, who took a drop-pass from Eizenman inside the right blueline and bombed a one-timer past Fisher.

Mayotte made 31 saves to preserve the win for Fresno, countered by Fisher's 25 stops.

NOTES: Edmonton Oilers vice president of hockey operations Kevin Prendergast was in attendance ... right wing Tyler Hirsch and defenseman David Robertson made their Stockton debut in the game ... before the game, MacMurchy and defenseman Tim O'Connell were activated off injured reserve, while rookie L.P. Lachance (three-day) and right wing Jason Beeman (seven-day) were placed on injured reserve ... the Thunder also missed the services of Beau Geisler (injured reserve) and Ryan Geris (injured reserve) ... the Thunder dropped to 3-5-0 in the season series against Fresno.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow with a rematch against Fresno beginning at 7:30 p.m. from Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN (potentially joined in progress) and online (video and audio available) at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to the Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 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.

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