Thunder Close Out Record Homestand On 6-1-4 Run

Published on January 31, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Andrew Perugini stopped 26 shots and Matt Robinson added a goal and an assist to help lift the Stockton Thunder (20-17-7, 47 points) to a 3-1 victory over the Alaska Aces before a crowd of 5,297 at Stockton Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Thunder, who won their tenth game at home despite missing the services of leading scorer Colin Hemingway, reached the 20-win plateau by closing out January by picking up points in ten of 12 games (6-2-4), finished its team record 11-game homestand with a 6-1-4 record.

The win also helped the Thunder close the gap to eight points behind the first place Bakersfield Condors in the Pacific Division.

Robinson's goal was spelled by goals from defenseman Bryan Young and Ryan Constant, who helped the Thunder extend its unbeaten in regulation streak against the Aces to 11-0-3 in the last 14 head-to-head games. Anthony Peluso scored the only Alaska goal, spoiling Perugini's shutout bid with 2:04 left in regulation.

Both Perugini and counterpart Scott Reid traded saves in the first period before Young's second goal of the season lifted the Thunder to a 1-0 lead with less than five seconds remaining, when he took Matt Robinson's drop pass and ripped a one-timer past Scott Reid from inside of the blueline.

Robinson's power-play goal hiked the lead to 2-0 with 7:14 elapsed in the second period when be buried a rebound for his 13th of the season, after James Bates' one-timer was blocked in the slot.

Constant stretched the Thunder edge to 3-0 on the team's second power-play goal of the game with 1:41 left in the period, taking Igor Gongalsky's missed centering pass and firing a wrist shot past Reid's glove from the high slot.

Perugini kept Alaska off the board in the second period with 11 saves.

With the Thunder managing the clock in the third period, Alaska put in one final bid for a dramatic rally when Peluso took Nick Mazzolini's pass from behind the net and buried a close-range, one-timed shot at the doorstep with 2:04 to play.

The Thunder finished off the Aces after Reid was pulled for a 6-on-5 skating situation. Reid took the loss in his first start in net since Jan. 9 by making 28 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Aaron Sorochan (injured reserve), Brett Hemingway (injured reserve), Colin Hemingway (injury, day-to-day), Justin DaCosta (injury, day-to-day) and Craig Valette (injured reserve)... Alaska lost leading scorer Alexandre Imbeault before the game, who was officially placed on the "team suspension" list and after agreeing to contract terms with a pro team in the Czech Republic... the Thunder banged out a 2-for-6 effort on the power-play and improved to 5-0-3 this year against Alaska... Thunder winger Mark Pavli dropped the gloves with former Thunder winger Judd Blackwater in the third period.

The Thunder returns to play on Friday, February 5 on the road against the Ontario Reign, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The game can be heard on radio at 1420 KSTN and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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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ECHL Stories from January 31, 2010


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