Stockton Earns Seventh Straight Win After Overtime Win Against Idaho

Published on January 18, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - All-Star forward Ryan Huddy scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner just 27 seconds into sudden-death overtime, to lift the Stockton Thunder (17-17-5, 39 points) to a come-from-behind 4-3 OT win over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,658 at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

The Thunder won their seventh game in a row in the finale before the ECHL All-Star break and are now 7-0-1 since Dec. 31 under Head Coach Matt Thomas, who were aided by a goal each from Ryan Constant and James Bates. Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 23 saves and the win moved his record to 9-10-2. Idaho received a goal each from Marty Flichel, Bryan McGregor and Mark Bomersback.

Idaho scored the first goal of the game for the second straight night courtesy of Flichel, who converted a tap-in from tight range for his 11th goal of the season just 1:30 in. Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton attempted to play the puck behind the net, but the puck rolled off his blade into the slot for Flichel, who converted the shot over a diving Ryan Constant.

Matt Climie made 11 saves in the first period to keep the Thunder blanked.

Huddy buried his team-leading 22nd goal of the year at 7:33 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1, when he beat Climie with a snap shot from the right circle. Bryan McGregor's 13th goal of the year restored the Steelheads lead at 2-1 with 9:33 left in the second period, when he snapped a shot off Pitton's right shoulder for a power-play goal.

Constant's fourth goal of the season tied the score at 2-2 just 57 seconds later when his wrist shot from the left point found its way through traffic and past Climie.

Mark Bomersback countered to put Idaho ahead 3-2 on the team's second power-play goal of the game with 2:54 left. Bomersback drove the slot, crashed the front of the net and re-directed Flichel's rocket pass from the right side boards past Pitton's blocker side.

Bates was awarded his eighth goal of the season with 9:08 left in regulation to level the score at 3-3, when he set a screen in front of Climie and re-directed Robbie Bina's snap shot from the left circle past Climie after Bina received a cross-ice pass from Kenny MacAulay and drove the net at top speed.

Idaho survived a furious attack by the Thunder in the late minutes of regulation but were whistled for too many men on the ice, setting the stage for Huddy's heroics on a four-on-three power-play.

Huddy converted the game-winner when he took Sebastien Bisaillon's lead pass, cut to the net at the left circle and wired a shot that beat Climie to the blocker side that sent Stockton Arena into delirium.

Climie made 33 saves in the loss for Idaho.



ECHL Stories from January 18, 2009


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