Thunder closes in on Kelly Cup Playoff berth by getting to overtime

April 2, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Goaltender Tim Boron made 38 saves and Lance Monych scored two goals to help the Stockton Thunder (26-39-4, 56 points) gain a point in the standings and settle for a 4-3 shootout loss to the Fresno Falcons before 4,639 at Save-Mart Center on Tuesday night.

The Thunder moved to a point ahead of the Phoenix RoadRunners, who dropped a 5-3 loss to Las Vegas tonight, into eighth place in the National Conference and reduced its magic number to three points to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

Monych lifted the Thunder to a 1-0 lead on his 29th goal of the season just 4:22 into the game, finishing a rebound in the slot after Fresno goaltender Kris Mayotte denied Brian Lee's bid from the left circle. Josh Prudden answered for Fresno with 3:09 left in the opening period with his seventh goal of the year, knotting the score at 1-1 after he buried a rebound under the crossbar at the left circle.

Boron made a game-high 15 saves in the first period.

Monych restored the Thunder advantage to 2-1 at the 3:26 mark of the second period for a power-play goal, netting a one-timer in the slot that was set-up by Ryan MacMurchy's pass from behind the net. Fresno leveled the score at 2-2 on veteran Luke Curtin's 12th goal of the season with 11:14 remaining in the period on a slapshot from the right point that eluded Boron with traffic obstructing the Thunder goaltender.

Just 3:14 later, rookie David Rohlfs' power-play goal hiked the Thunder to a 3-2 lead on his 16th goal of the season. Rohlfs corralled a pass from Fredrik Johansson at the base of the left circle and whipped a low shot to the crease that re-directed off Kris Mayotte's pads and into the net.

Matt O'Dette continued the second period offensive burst with his sixth goal of the year, Fresno's second power-play goal of the game, to help Fresno tie the game again at 22 with 1:39 left in the second period. O'Dette buried a rebound at the top of the crease after Boron snuffed Matt Stefanishion's bid from the left circle.

Boron stopped 12 shots by Fresno in the third period to push the game into overtime, while Mayotte denied all four shots the Thunder issued in the final 20 minutes.

The Thunder outshot Fresno 5-2 in the overtime period, overcoming a 4-on-3 Fresno power-play with one of their own, in the final minute of play. Mayotte stopped a bid by Ryan MacMurchy to end the game on MacMurchy's one-timer from the left circle that nearly missed parking under the crossbar and deflected off the right shoulder of the Fresno netminder.

Tim Verbeek scored the only shootout goal for the Thunder in the third round and Fresno surged to victory on two shootout goals in the final two rounds by Stuart MacRae and Brian O'Hanley, respectively.

Veteran Joel Stepp added a two-assist game for the Thunder and has points in eight of his last 11 games.

NOTES: The Thunder missed the services of Luke Lynes (travel), Les Reaney (injured reserve), Phil Cole (injured reserve), Beau Geisler (injured reserve) and Ryan Geris (injured reserve) ... before the game the Thunder transferred Cole to the seven-day injured reserve list and placed Reaney on the three-day injured reserve list... the Thunder finished its 2007-08 regular season record at 4-5-1 against Fresno and 1-10-2 lifetime at Save-Mart Center ... Tuesday's game was the final regular season home game for the Falcons at the Fresno State campus facility, who are moving back to Selland Arena in 2008-09.

The Thunder continues the final four-game road trip of the regular season on Thursday against the Utah Grizzlies, beginning at 6:05 p.m. from The E-Center. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420 KSTN and online at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 and 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages are now on sale and individual ticket information for the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be announced soon. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.

-- RATED "E" FOR EXCITEMENT --

THREE STARS: 1. FRE - 72 Luke Curtin 2. FRE - 2 Matt O'Dette 3. STK - 30 Tim Boron

LINK TO BOXSCORE: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/text-game-report.php?game_id=4682



ECHL Stories from April 2, 2008


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