Thunder blanked 4-0 on Carrozzi's 40 save shutout

December 3, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Chris Carrozzi ended a ten game winless skid dating back to last season and posted 40 saves for his third career shutout, helping the Ontario Reign send the Stockton Thunder (9-7-3, 21 points) to a 4-0 defeat before 5,041 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

Derek Couture scored a pair of goals and C.J. Stretch added a goal and an assist for the Reign, while the Thunder were blanked for the second time on home ice this season despite pouring 28 shots on goal in the final 40 minutes. They outshot Ontario 40-32.

"We need to bear down," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "There are nights where you don't have it, but hard work and execution go hand in hand with being a professional athlete. We're not executing and the results are inconsistency. Our passing on the power play was great all the way through, until we made a solid play to spring a guy open for a shot at the net and the pass was off the mark."

The Thunder were held to an 0-of-4 clip on the power play.

The first goal was scored at 14:47 by Ontario's Derek Couture with assists by C.J. Stretch and Chris Huxley.

Following the goal, both teams ramped up the aggression with several penalties on both sides and a fight between Steven Tarasuk and Thunder's Brett Cameron with less than a minute less in the first period and with both players tumbling down to the ice.

The Thunder's best bid in the second period came on a Kevin Baker centering attempt, which found Ian O'Connor wide open at the doorstep. Carrozzi turned the one timer away with his left pad.

Less than 30 seconds into the third period Couture scored his second goal of the night on a slap shot from the right circle. Stretch boosted Ontario to a 3-0 edge at 12:43 of the third period with a wrist shot off the rush from the left circle.

Soon after, Ontario's Tristan King scored the fourth and final goal of the night after chasing down a loose puck from the right wing with 1:37 left.

Thomas Heemkerk made 32 saves and took the loss.

The Thunder returns to play on Sunday with the eighth matchup of the season against Ontario at Citizens Business Bank Arena at 5:00 p.m., starting a three game road trip. Radio coverage of the game will be available at 1280 KWSX. Online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.



ECHL Stories from December 3, 2011


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