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Thunder come back to knock out Reign in shootout on Weller's winner

March 2, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


ONTARIO, Calif. - Shawn Weller broke a 2-2 tie in the final round of a shootout and scored on a fancy backhanded deke to lift the Stockton Thunder (30-22-9, 69 points) to a 3-2 shootout win over the Ontario Reign before 9,616 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday.

The Thunder, who came back from a 2-1 deficit after the first period, were aided by goaltender Tyler Bunz's 33 saves. He won his first set of back to back games since Dec. 27-28.

The Thunder improved to 4-3-1 against Ontario in the season series.

The Thunder got on the board on Brandon Davidson's breakaway goal at 3:16 of the opening period when he took Matt Bergland's lead pass and beat Chris Carrozzi on a deke to the blocker side.

Ontario responded with back to back goals when Kevin Estrada put a rebound off Tyler Bunz from the left goal line at 5:13 and Matt Register converted a rebound at the right circle for a power play goal at 10:18 for a 2-1 lead after the first period.

Matt Bergland's tenth goal of the season leveled the game on one of four Thunder power plays in the second period for a 2-2 tie. Tony DeHart intercepted an Ontario clearing pass at the right blueline, weaved pass one defender and put a pass onto Bergland's tape in the slot. Carrozzi stopped Bergland's initial bid but Bergland converted the rebound at 1:36.

The two teams endured chances at both ends in the third period and in overtime to force a shootout. Ryan Hayes and Maxime Boisclair buried snapshots past Carrozzi's blocker, answered by goals from Ontario's Kyle Kraemer and Brodie Sheahan.

After Bunz stopped Brady Calla's forehand bid in the fifth round, Weller closed the game with a backhanded deke through Carrozzi's five hole to send the Thunder off the bench, celebrating at center ice.

Carrozzi took the shootout loss with 15 saves.

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