Thunder burst to 5-0-2 on road, back into 1st place on Aiello's two goals

Published on December 4, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


VICTORIA, British Columbia - Defensemen Anthony Aiello tied a career-high with two goals and Bryan Pitton made 28 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (10-4-4, 24 points) to a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings, before 4,479 fans at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday night.

The Thunder, who reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division, ahead of idle Las Vegas and moved to a point behind Utah for the top record in the Western Conference, improved to 5-0-2 on the road and are the only team in the ECHL yet to lose a road game in regulation.

"I was impressed with our offensive determination tonight," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "Everyone was committed to the system. Bryan gave us some solid goaltending again and our defense really stepped up and contributed offensively, led by Aiello."

Aiello's two goals produced points spread out among the blueline, including Cameron Brodie (one assist) and Dan Ringwald (one assist). Chris Lawrence, Mark Arcobello and Garet Hunt also chipped in with a goal each.

The Thunder came out flying and chased starting goaltender Darren Machesney with two goals in the first four shots, eventually leading 2-1 after one period.

Aiello scored his second goal of the year on a power-play to break the scoreless tie just 3:19 into the game with a wrist shot from the left point that seared through traffic.

Hunt's first goal of the year boosted the Thunder lead to a pair of goals at the 8:36 mark, converting Fraser Clair's give-and-go pass from the right corner with a re-direction at the goal mouth.

Victoria got back into the game on Matt Stefanishion's third goal of the season with 8:15 left in the period, firing a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Pitton to the glove side.

Then on a Mark Arcobello turnover, Matt Siddall converted a wrist shot from between the circles to level the score, 2-2 at 6:01 of the second period.

Two point blank saves by Pitton, including a re-direction by Siddall at the goal mouth, kept the tie in tact until the Thunder capitalized off two consecutive minutes of a forecheck in the Victoria zone.

After the Salmon Kings cleared the zone, Lawrence capped the rally to restore the Thunder lead at 3-2 on his sixth goal of the season. Jim McKenzie fed Lawrence up ice, faked a slapshot and deked to the right circle, where his wrist shot beat Shantz's blocker.

Aiello's second goal of the game restored the two-goal lead at 4-2 with 14:20 left in regulation, when he took a drop pass from Pierre-Andre Bureau, deked by a fallen Salmon King and buried a wrist shot from inside of the left circle.

Victoria pressed for a desperate rally and got within a goal on Rick Cleaver's extra attacker marker with 48 seconds remaining, when he launched a one-timer from the right circle to the back of the net after the Thunder failed to clear the zone.

On the ensuing shift, Victoria entered the zone again but failed to get a shot on net. Arcobello poked the puck out of a scrum along the right boards and slipped a clearing attempt all the way to the open net with 14 seconds left in the game.

It makes a big difference when you help the team get the first regulation win in awhile," said Aiello. "It's a great feeling personally, but it's even better when you help the team out. We know how hard it is to get wins on the road. We're digging down deep and know what it takes because you have to work harder than usual."

Pitton improved to 6-0-1 and Shantz took the defeat, falling to 5-8-0 with 25 saves.

The Thunder returns to play for its next game on Saturday against Victoria, starting 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.

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 fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season Tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for 2010-11 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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