Thunder claws back from four-goal deficit in overtime loss

March 30, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Thunder (16-38-13, 45 points) forward Aaron Foster collected two goals to spearhead a four-goal comeback, part of a 5-4 overtime loss to the San Diego Gulls (32-28-6, 70 points) in front of 4,332 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

San Diego roared out of the gates with four first period goals, beginning with two markers in a 40-second span. Jonathan Shockey put the Gulls out front 1-0 with a power play goal 2:46 into the game, converting a one-timer in the high slot. Bobby Cunningham finished off an up-ice rush 3at the 3:26 mark with a 10-foot backhander in the slot. After Evan Shaw made it 3-0 at the 14:09 mark, Chris Cava netted a 50-foot wrist shot in the high slot at the 15:54 mark to push the lead to four.

Three second period power play goals brought the Thunder back in the game, beginning with a two-goal stretch in 34 seconds. Lance Monych batted in a rebound only 2:36 into the period to put Stockton on the board at 4-1 with a two-man advantage. Aaron Foster cut the lead to two at 3:10 with assists to Ned Havern and Aaron MacInnis.

Geno Parrish drew the Thunder to within a goal at the 10:23 mark, converting another two-man advantage with a shot from the high slot. After the Thunder replaced starting goaltender Jake Moreland with Jeff Weber in the second period, Weber shut the door on San Diego in the second frame with six stops.

Foster completed the comeback in the third as he netted his second goal to tie the game at 6:31 with a wrist shot from the left circle, as Nathan Martz led the Thunder's two-on-one break. The Gulls' Steve Hildenbrand scored the game winner on the power play 1:23 into overtime.

Martz, who added two assists on the night, leads the Thunder with nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) against the Gulls this season. Mike Lalonde picked up one goal and one assist in the game has now scored picked up a point in five straight games, with eight points in that stretch (3 goals, 5 assists). The Thunder finishes their torrid month of March with a 8-5-2 record.

The Thunder returns to play on Saturday against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at 7 p.m. PT, the final road game for Stockton in 2005-06. The game can be heard live on the internet (audio only broadcast) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B-2 Networks.

Thunder season tickets, individual tickets, and mini packages are on-sale now. Individual tickets can be purchased in person at Stockton Arena's Ticket Office, online at www.stocktontickets.com, or by phone at (209) 373-1700. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



ECHL Stories from March 30, 2006


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