Thunder drop playoff rematch to Las Vegas

November 1, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Goaltender John DeCaro made 20 saves and five different goal scorers for the Las Vegas Wranglers helped send the Stockton Thunder (2-4-0, 4 points) to a 5-1 defeat before a crowd of 3,381 at Orleans Arena on Friday night.

The game was the first rematch between both teams since the National Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Veteran Chris Ferraro led Las Vegas in scoring with a three point effort (1g-2a) and a +4 rating.

Chris Neiszner scored his second goal of the season 5:14 into the game to stake the Wranglers to a 1-0 edge when he buried a one-timer from the left circle past the blocker of Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton. Las Vegas hiked the lead to 2-0 on Tyler Mosienko's first goal of the season, capitalizing on a turnover at the top of the crease and sliding the puck into an open net.

Chris Korchinski's second goal of the year put Las Vegas up 3-0 at the 7:39 mark of the second period when his wrist shot from the slot found the back of the net after deflecting off Pitton's blocker. With the Thunder battling a delayed penalty and Las Vegas goaltender John DeCaro pulled for an extra attacker, Ferraro's one-timer from the left circle hiked the Wranglers to a 4-0 cushion with 3:31 left.

The Thunder responded just 1:13 later when rookie James Bates buried his second goal of the year to cut the Wranglers lead to 4-1 on a backhanded bid from the slot.

P.J. Atherton finished the scoring with his first goal of the season at the 6:05 mark of the third period, burying a snap shot form the high slot.

Las Vegas outshot the Thunder 23-21 for the game.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Milan Maslonka (injured reserve), Toby LaFrance (healthy) and Garet Hunt (healthy) ... the Thunder fell to 4-16-1 lifetime against Las Vegas ... Cory Urquhart had his five-game scoring streak come to an end.

The Thunder finish six-game road trip on Saturday at Rabobank Arena against the Bakersfield Condors at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420 KSTN and is available on the internet (video and audio available) for a $7 charge at www.StocktonThunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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 November 1, 2008


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