Stockton Loses In Shootout

December 31, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Joe Fallon made 39 saves, including all five in a shootout to help the Las Vegas Wranglers escape in a shootout victory, 4-3 over the Stockton Thunder (12-10-6, 30 points), before 6,480 fans at Stockton Arena on Thursday night.

The Thunder, who claimed sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division by forcing overtime, picked up a point as Garrett Zemlak made 15 saves. The only shot that got by him in the shootout was a James Bates tally in the fourth round, who completed a ‚¬Å“Gordie Howe Hat Trick ‚¬Â with a goal, assist and fight.

Garet Hunt, Jesse Gimblett and Chase Ryan, who scored the first goal of his pro career, all buried goals for the Thunder, who outshot Las Vegas by a 42-19 mark.

‚¬Å“Their best players scored key goals and our best players worked hard, but didn't score enough, ‚¬Â said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. ‚¬Å“We didn't execute in the shootout, but I liked our effort. I know we're trying. There's no question we carried the play and dominated but we only got one point in the last two games. We need to get better. ‚¬Â

The Thunder, who entertained a combined crowd of over 13,000 for the final two home games before the New Year's break (7,050 fans were in attendance on Wednesday), sprinted out of the gates outshooting Las Vegas, 13-4 in the first period and answered a Ryan Huddy deflection tally at the goal mouth with 4:58 left in the first with a power-play goal to even the score with 2.9 seconds left.

Hunt cashed in for his third goal of the season, banging Mark Arcobello's feed from behind the net over Joe Fallon's blocker from beneath the hash marks.

Las Vegas took the lead again, 2-1 on a James Bates power-play goal with 10:43 gone in the second period, when he converted Sean McMonagle's cross-ice pass with a one-timer from the left circle.

Just 31 seconds later, Gimblett answered with his seventh goal of the season when he buried a rebound from the right goal post, after Joe Fallon denied Chris Lawrence's one-timer at the right circle.

Ryan then followed with the first goal of his pro career to lift the Thunder to its first lead, 2:05 into the third period at 3-2. He corralled P.A. Bureau's pass at the high slot and drilled a wrist shot through traffic and Fallon's five-hole from the center point.

The Wranglers came back with 10:15 left in regulation and Huddy tied the score again on his second goal of the game. Following an errant Thunder clearing attempt at the blueline, Bates snuffed the puck out from several legs and sticks and flipped a diagonal pass that Huddy caught at the right circle and buried with a snap shot.

The Thunder nearly claimed the lead on a late power-play in the last three minutes of regulation, as Fallon denied Dan Ringwald at the doorstep on a rebound. Both teams carried the tie into overtime and Zemlak preserved the game with a key save in the first two minutes on Eddie DelGrosso, stopping a wrist shot from between the circles.

Fallon and Zemlak matched saves into the fourth round of the shootout, until Bates got the only tally on a snap shot off his forehand. Jesse Gimblett's attempt the keep the game alive was stopped by Fallon with a backhander to the five-hole.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Jarrett Konkle (travel), Daryl Marcoux (injured, day to day), Jim McKenzie (injured reserve), Trevor Hunt (injured reserve), Bretton Cameron (injured, day-to-day) and Tyson Sexsmith (injured reserve) ‚¬Â¦ Thunder owner Brad Rowbotham was in attendance ‚¬Â¦ Chris Lawrence and Bates, who made his return to Stockton last night, dropped the gloves at 9:09 of the first period after Lawrence delivered a body check on Paukovich in the previous shift ‚¬Â¦ the Thunder went 1-for-4 on the power-play ‚¬Â¦ Jordan Fulton made his Thunder debut and was +1 with a shot on goal, stopped by Fallon's sprawling left pad save in the first period on a backhander.

The Thunder returns for its next game on the road Wednesday, Jan. 5, visiting the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:05 p.m. at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 KWSX and viewed live on the internet (pay-per-view video charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.



ECHL Stories from December 31, 2010


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