Thunder becomes first team in 2011-12 to sweep Alaska in three game series

January 29, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Alex Stalock made a season high 38 saves and Jordan Fulton broke a 1-1 tie on a game winning goal with 16:07 remaining in regulation to lift the Stockton Thunder (21-18-4, 46 points) to a 2-1 victory over the Alaska Aces at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

The win, which helped the Thunder improve to 6-1-1 at home since Dec. 30 and become the first team to hand the Aces (entering the game with a league best 67 points) a three game sweep this season, gave Stalock a 4-0-0 record since his return from injury. Milan Kytnar scored the first goal of the game and the Thunder captured sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference.

"I don't think getting ahead of ourselves is the right thing to do, but we have won five in a row at home which says something," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "It's getting there for us. We've played well at home all year and we didn't score timely goals earlier this season. We're feeling more confident at home and those early goals play a big part in that."

Stockton ended a stretch of eight games in ten days and recorded five wins in six games against Las Vegas and Alaska, who both lead the Pacific and Mountain Divisions, respectively.

Stockton and Alaska battled through a scoreless tie in the opening minutes and Stalock stopped the first major threat of the game by Alaska on a highlight reel, diving glove save on Wes Goldie with 8:28 left, stabbing at rebound at the top of the crease.

With 25.9 seconds left in the first period, Kytnar re-directed a Mike Little feed past Adam Courchaine's blocker from the goal mouth for a 1-0 Thunder advantage.

Alaska retaliated on Dan Kissel's wrist shot from the inside of the left circle with 4:33 left in the second period, tying the game at 1-1.

Kissel then coughed the puck up in the Aces zone to Fulton, who swooped to the front of the net from the right boards and converted a forehand deke to Courchaine's blocker side at the 3:53 mark of the third period for a 2-1 Thunder lead.

Stalock preserved the lead with another save on Goldie from close range in the third period and Alaska pulled Courchaine in the final minute of play for a 6-on-5 skating situation. Steve Ward's attempted deflection from the left corner was gobbled by Stalock's glove with 11 seconds left and Stalock cleared the puck, forcing an icing call with less than two seconds left.

The Thunder tied the puck up at the final faceoff and Garry Nunn's backhander sailed wide at the final horn.

Goldie, whose 25 goals ranked second in the ECHL entering the game, was held scoreless for the entire three game series on a matchup primarily against the defensive pairing of Little and Nathan Deck.

"You need great performances from individuals and we did a good job trying to neutralize the things that they do well," said Thomas. "They have a lot of great players on that team and they're very dangerous."

Alaska suffered their second three game losing streak of the season and their first since November.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Jesse Fratkin (injured, day to day), Ryan Martindale (injured reserve), Tony DeHart (injured reserve), Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Jason Morgan (injured reserve), Sebastian Owuya (healthy) and Thomas Heemskerk (injured reserve) ... the Thunder recorded their first three game sweep of Alaska since December of 2009 at Sullivan Arena ... Alaska owned the lead in shots, 39-36 ... San Jose Sharks vice president and assistant general manager Wayne Thomas was in attendance.

The Thunder return to play on the road on Wednesday, visiting the Bakersfield Condors at 7:00 p.m. The game will be carried on radio at 1280 KWSX and online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2011-12 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/ .

THREE STARS

1. STK - 35 Alex Stalock

2. STK - 18 Jordan Fulton

3. AK - 1 Adam Courchaine



ECHL Stories from January 29, 2012


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