Thunder 7-1-2 streak slowed as Sixsmith, Kinasewich, Perry line post nine points

Published on February 23, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Veteran Lance Galbraith's power-play goal erased a 4-4 tie and helped the Utah Grizzlies send the Stockton Thunder (24-19-7, 56 points) to only their second regulation loss in 11 games, 5-4, before a crowd of 1,962 at The E-Center on Tuesday evening.

Utah rode an offensive wave of their top line, as James Sixsmith (1g-3a), Ryan Kinasewich (1g-2a) and A.J. Perry (two assists) combined for nine points between the trio. The Thunder each received a goal from J.F. Caudron, Justin DaCosta, Matt Robinson and Daryl Marcoux.

The Thunder, who still hold second place in the Pacific Division, have two games in-hand on Utah despite their counterparts leapfrogging into fifth place in the conference and fell to 0-5-1 in the last six lifetime games in suburban Salt Lake City.

Both teams played a high-tempo style and began the opening 20 minutes with four combined goals in a 2-2 tie. Tom May began the scoring by snapping an eight-game scoring drought with his 16th goal of the year just 1:35 into the game on a blast from the right hash mark.

Ryan Kinasewich, playing in his first game back from an AHL loan, buried his team-leading 33rd goal of the year at the 6:04 mark to lift Utah to a 2-0 lead, converting on a 2-on-1 at the right circle, on James Sixsmith's cross-ice feed.

The Thunder rallied for two goals to level the score by the end of the period, beginning with DaCosta's third of the season with 8:12 left in the period when he buried a wrist shot while racing down the slot.

Caudron finished off a centering pass by Oren Eizenman at the left goal post for his 14th goal of the season with 2:19 left in the period to tie the game.

Robinson buried the Thunder's third unanswered goal at 3:13 of the second period, finishing James Bates' soft threaded pass at the goal mouth with a wrist shot lofted over Mitch O'Keefe's blocker, giving the Thunder its first lead at 3-2.

Utah retaliated with two goals to take a 4-3 lead at the end of the period, beginning with Peter Aston's power-play goal at 7:53, rifling a wrist shot through traffic from the left circle.

James Sixmith then finished off A.J. Perry's pass at the top of the crease with 57.6 seconds left in the period for his 15th goal of the season, restoring Utah's one-goal cushion.

Marcoux helped fire back and tie the game with 5:45 elapsed in the third period at 4-4, when he scored his second goal of the season on a slapshot from the right point that was set up by Igor Gongalsky outmuscling Lance Galbraith for a loose puck in the right corner.

Just 1:31 later, the veteran Galbraith knocked in his tenth of the year on a screen for a power-play goal for the eventual-game winner, catching a piece of Aston's drive from the right point.

Undeterred, the Thunder pulled Perugini for a 6-on-4 skating situation in the final minute of play and threatened with two chances on a drive from the point by Cody Wild and Colin Hemingway at the doorstep, but the Grizzlies escaped with the victory by sealing the puck against the boards.

Perugini suffered only his second regulation loss in the last 12 games by making 26 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Steve Vanoosten (injured reserve), Riley Emmerson (injured reserve), Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Garet Hunt (healthy), Ryan Constant (healthy) and Craig Valette (injured reserve)... the Thunder went 0-for-4 on the power-play... D'Alvise extended his scoring streak to seven straight games... Bates moved his scoring streak to six consecutive games... forward Mark Pavli played in his first game against his former Utah teammates for the first time since a January trade to the Thunder... the Thunder suffered its first loss in regulation on an eight-game road trip (2-1-1).

Both teams return to play tomorrow in a 6:05 rematch at The E-Center. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

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