Sports stats



Stockton defeats Bakersfield

February 21, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 45 saves for his third shutout of the season and fifth of his career, helping guide the Stockton Thunder (24-18-8, 56 points) to a 2-0 victory over the host Bakersfield Condors, before 5,354 fans at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night.

The Thunder, who took three of four points from their first place counterpart, closed the gap for first place in the Pacific Division to just five points as James Bates and Oren Eizenman scored in the second and third period, each.

Stockton won for the second time this season on Rabobank Arena ice, where a "Toilet Plunger" promotion was staged before the game where fans in attendance received a free plunger with a Thunder logo on the underside.

Both teams played through a scoreless tie after 20 minutes, with Andrew Perugini stopping 12 Bakersfield shots and counterpart Timo Pielmeier turning away 10 shots by the Thunder.

The highlight save of the period included an acrobatic stop by Pielmeier from close on Matt Robinson, whose wrist shot was stopped by the goaltender stacking the pads.

The Thunder finally drew first blood following a penalty kill on Bates' 18th goal of the season with 12:56 left in the second period, ripping a wrist shot from the mid slot over Pielmeier's blocker after Robinson set up Bates with a feed from the right wing.

Perugini kept Bakersfield off the board through two periods with 14 saves in the second period and was helped out by his own defensive corps when caught out of his own net. Jason Dale's bid to tie the game was foiled when his sharp-angled shot from the left side was stopped on a shot block by Cody Wild.

Eizenman's 12th goal of the year put the game out of reach with nine minutes left in regulation, taking a feed from J.F. Caudron off the rush and beating Pielmeier with a snap shot from between the circles.

Perugini and the Thunder thwarted one final rally attempt by the Condors, whose 45 saves was a Thunder season high.

Pielmeier made 24 saves in the losing effort.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from February 21, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central