Thunder battles back, Utah retaliates in four-goal third period

Published on January 14, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Ryan Kinasewich scored a hat trick and the game-winning goal in a four-goal third period combined between the Stockton Thunder (18-8-6, 42 points) and Utah Grizzlies, as Utah's two unanswered goals sent the Thunder to a 5-3 loss before 5,835 at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

Heading into the all-star break, the Thunder has finished 25 points better than last season's pace through 32 games. Stockton was 6-21-5 through the same stretch in 2005-06.

The Thunder pounded Utah goaltender Sean Fields with 15 shots in the first period and struck for the first goal of the game on Troy Bodie's 14th goal of the season at the 7:55 mark for a 1-0 lead. While on the power-play, Lalonde centered the puck from the right corner for Nathan Martz, whose bid by Fields was stopped and kicked out to a nearby Bodie for an easy tap-in.

Utah retaliated with 1:05 left in the period for a 1-1 tie on a power-play, when Kinasewich wired a slapshot from the left point that beat Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth with traffic in front of the Stockton netminder.

A two-goal second period gave Utah their first lead of the game at a 3-1 score, beginning with Jake Riddle's second tally of the season at the 9:45 mark for the Grizzlies' second power-play goal of the game. Riddle raced down the left wing unchecked, finished a right wing feed from Chris Trick and tapped in the pass against the left goal post.

Kinasewich scored his second goal of the game and 22nd of the year just 2:59 later, who lined up a slapshot from the top of the right circle which Ellsworth stopped, but the puck deflected off the goaltender's right shoulder and trickled into the open net for a 3-1 Thunder deficit.

The Thunder mounted a two-goal comeback to knot the game at 3-3, beginning with red-hot Tim Verbeek's fourth goal in two games and eighth of the season at the 6:34 mark of the third period, finishing a feed from Troy Bodie at the left wing as Verbeek beat Fields to the blocker side. Just 1:11 later, Stephen Slonina broke an eight-game goal-scoring drought with his eighth tally of the season with a rebound goal on the doorstep to tie the game, finishing Stephane Goulet's sharp-angle bid from the right goal line.

Utah retaliated with the two-goal finish after the Thunder was denied on a 3-on-1 break, beginning with Kinasewich's hat trick goal and 23rd marker of the season with nine minutes elapsed for a 4-3 lead, deflecting Brad Herauf's pass on the doorstep past Ellsworth's blocker.

Stockton mounted furious pressure on Fields for nearly four consecutive minutes, as the opportunistic Grizzlies capitalized on their next trip down ice for Joel Irving's fourth goal of the season for the finishing 5-3 score. Irving took Jimmie Kraft's pass from the left wing and slipped a one-timer past Ellsworth's glove.

Bodie led the Thunder offensive attack with a goal and assist in the game.

The Thunder heads into the all-star break for a four-day rest and returns to play on Friday, January 19 with a 7:30 p.m. home game against the Fresno Falcons at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing for a $6 "pay-per-view" charge 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.

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