Thunder concedes two games to Alaska in weekend series

March 6, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Garry Nunn scored a pair of goals and added an assist to help the Alaska Aces clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth and defeat the Stockton Thunder (29-21-9, 67 points), 5-2, in front of a crowd of 5,029 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday night.

Curtis Fraser added another goal and an assist to spell the Aces in scoring. Kelly Czuy and Craig Valette recorded the only two Stockton goals. The Thunder saw its magic number stay at 5 to clinch a playoff spot. Alaska took two wins in the three game weekend series in Stockton.

"We need to stop playing so inconsistently," said head coach Matt Thomas. "We are making too many mental mistakes and unfocused mistakes that are costing the team momentum and the mindset that we can win this hockey game."

Stockton ended their scoring drought by getting the first goal at 15:11 of the opening period. Jordan Fulton headmanned the puck up to/sent a leading pass to Czuy, who was all alone in front of Alaska's net. Once he deked past Courchaine, Czuy had an easy shot into the empty right side of the net, and made it 1-0.

The Thunder's lead was short-lived, as Alaska's Ethan Cox tied up the score 1-1 at 15:43. After skating around the back of the net, Cox squeezed the puck past Bryan Pitton's left shoulder on a bad angle shot.

During the second period, Garry Nunn put the Aces ahead on the scoreboard 2-1, when he wristed the puck past Pitton's glove as Pitton went into his butterfly.

Pierre-Andre Bureau's minor slashing penalty at 19:44 of the second period extended into the third and put the Thunder on the penalty kill. Just 52 seconds in, Stockton got a short-handed goal from Valette after winning the opening face-off, making it 2-2. Valette slipped the puck through Courchaine's five-hole for his fifth goal of the season.

Less than five minutes later, Alaska struck again and made it 3-2 from a shot by Wes Goldie over the sprawled-out Pitton. Pitton made the first save on Dan Kissel, but could not stop Goldie from burying the rebound as he fell to his back in the crease.

Curtis Fraser increased the score to 4-2 at 14:54 by shooting the puck past Pitton's glove side.

In the final 3 minutes of the game, Nunn got his second goal of the night to make the final score 5-2. As he skated to the net, Pitton tried to poke-check the puck away, but Nunn went around him and slipped the puck into the back of the net.

Pitton's overall record dropped to 17-9-3 with the loss.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Chase Ryan (healthy), Ryan Constant (suspension), Jesse Gimblett (healthy), and Jarrett Konkle (healthy) ‚¬Â¦the shots on goal were even between the teams, with 28 shots apiece ‚¬Â¦neither team were successful on the power play, with Stockton going 0-for-2.

The Thunder heads back to the road for its next game on Wednesday, March 9, visiting the Utah Grizzlies at Maverik Center at 6:05 p.m. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 KWSX and viewed live on the internet (pay-per-view video charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the fifth consecutive season in 2009-10. Season Tickets, mini-plans and individual tickets for 2010-11 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/.

THREE STARS

1. AK- 1 Adam Courchaine

2. AK- 9 Garry Nunn

3. AK- 44 Curtis Fraser



ECHL Stories from March 6, 2011


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