Stockton defeats Idaho

November 10, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BOISE, Idaho * Tyler Spurgeon scored a game-winning goal with 2:31 remaining in overtime to lift the Stockton Thunder (6-0-1, 13 points) to a 4-3 overtime victory against the Idaho Steelheads, before 4,804 at Qwest Arena on Friday night.

The win extends a Thunder all-time best unbeaten streak to seven straight games. With Phoenix's win over Las Vegas tonight, the Thunder remains as the only unbeaten left in the ECHL and now sits in first place in the National Conference's Pacific Division.

The Thunder struck first for a 1-0 lead at the 7:51 mark of the first period on a power-play goal, when Brendon Hodge drove the net from the left wing, slipped a missed backhander past Idaho goaltender Steve Silverthorn and off the post, and had the rebound cleaned up by Stephen Slonina on the doorstep.

Idaho answered with under one second left with a power-play marker to tie the game at 1-1, when Tuomas Mikkonen's bid from the right point was blocked at the right circle, followed up by Francis Wathier's shot that beat Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk under the crossbar.

The see-saw battle continued into the second period, when Stephane Goulet scored his second goal of the season for Stockton at the 9:03 mark, backhanding in a rebound from Hodge's blast from the left circle. Idaho answered again only 25 seconds later, when defenseman Travis Wight scored his first professional goal when his centering bid from the right corner deflected in past Dubnyk's pads.

Both teams combined for 28 shots in the third period, as Goulet's second goal of the game put Stockton ahead 3-2 at the third period's 5:44 mark, as Goulet tipped in Beau Geisler's shot from the blueline. With 1:51 left in regulation, Idaho captain Marty Flichel amped the Qwest Arena crowd with a game-tying goal for a 3-3 score, when he buried a one-timer into an open right corner of the net after Wight followed up a rebound behind the net and fed Flichel in front.

Spurgeon then posted the game-winner by zooming past a fallen Steelhead defender at the blueline, and beating Silverthorn with a 20-foot wrist shot from the slot on the Idaho netminder's stick side.

The win gives the Thunder its first victory against Idaho in team history. Goulet led the Thunder offense with two goals, a Thunder season-high, while Geisler and Brendon Hodge added two assists each. Dubnyk hiked his record to a perfect 5-0-0 through five games with 41 saves on the night.

The Thunder and Steelheads face a rematch on Saturday, November 11, beginning at 6:10 p.m. at Qwest Arena, dotting the second game of the three-game series in Boise. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" rate at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Thunder season tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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.



ECHL Stories from November 10, 2006


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