Thunder comeback attempt falls short

March 15, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Idaho Steelheads left winger Tuomas Mikkonen scored two goals and goaltender Steve Silverthorn turned aside 21 shots as the Stockton Thunder (27-22-10, 64 pts) fell to a 4-3 setback before 3,805 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder continues to maintain sole possession of sixth place in the National Conference despite the loss.

Mikkonen opened the scoring at the 4:39 mark of the opening period, converting a tape-to-tape feed from forward B.J. Crombeen for his 13th goal of the season. Crombeen, positioned just beyond the goal line to the right of Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth, found Mikkonen un-marked in the slot with a spin-o-rama type effort. The Idaho left-winger proceeded to beat Ellsworth with a wrist-shot stick-side to lift the Steelheads to a 1-0 advantage.

Ellsworth would maintain the one goal deficit with a solid reaction save on a 30-foot wrist shot attempt by Steelheads left-winger Scott Burt with seven minutes remaining in the frame. The Thunder netminder made a blocker save through traffic, one of ten saves Ellsworth made during the opening period.

Crombeen doubled the Steelheads advantage at the 5:13 mark of the second period on the power-play, jamming his own rebound past Ellsworth from atop the Stockton goal crease to give Idaho a 2-0 lead. The Idaho forward was on the receiving end of a perfect feed from forward Alexander Naurov from behind the Thunder goal, managing to score his 1st goal of the season on a second effort after Ellsworth made the initial pad save on a one-timer in-close.

The Thunder would cut the Steelheads lead in half at the 9:04 mark during the course of a 5-on-3 power-play as defenseman Tim O'Connell fed a streaking Tim Verbeek across the red line. Verbeek, entering the Idaho zone down the right side, would beat Silverthorn with a snap-shot stick-side to cut the lead to 2-1. The goal was Verbeek's 13th on the season.

Idaho responded at the 13:47 mark on the power-play as forward Taggart Desmet fed Mikkonen alone in the slot from the left corner. Mikkonen proceeded to beat Ellsworth with a one-timer five-hole for his second goal on the night, and 14th tally thus far this season to restore the Steelheads two goal advantage, making the score 3-1.

Steelheads right-winger Derek Nesbitt lifted Idaho to a 4-1 advantage at 4:17 of the third period with his 24th goal of the season while Idaho found itself short-handed. Nesbitt capitalized on a Thunder turn-over at the Steelheads blue line, beating Ellsworth on a break-away with a shot low to the stick-side.

Stockton proceeded to capitalize on a power-play opportunity, narrowing the Idaho lead to 4-2 as right-winger Stephane Goulet had his own cross-crease pass attempt in front of Silverthorn deflect off a Steelheads defender back onto his stick. Goulet corralled the loose puck, beating Silverthorn top shelf to collect his 12th goal of the season.

Thunder center Colin Pepperall pulled Stockton to within one goal at 19:22 with his 2nd goal on the season, the beneficiary of a scramble in front of Silverthorn as the Thunder attacked 6-on-4 with Ellsworth on the bench. A deflected shot attempt landed cleanly on Pepperall's stick to the right of Silverthorn. Pepperall slid the puck past the Idaho netminder to cap the scoring at 4-3.

O'Connell led the Thunder offense with two assists.

The Thunder continues its eight-game homestand with a game against the Idaho Steelheads on Friday, March 16, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Recently named host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season are on sale now. 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 15, 2007


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