Thunder drop series opening game on Galbraith's pair of goals

Published on March 13, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Veteran forward Lance Galbraith scored twice, Tim Crowder had three assists and goaltender Beau Erickson made 28 saves to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Stockton Thunder (27-24-8, 62 points) to a 5-2 defeat before 5,111 fans at The E-Center on Friday night.

The Thunder, who stayed seven points behind the first place Bakersfield Condors, received offensive support with two power-play goals from James Bates and Ryan Constant. Utah, who won its third straight over Stockton in The E-Center this season, secured the win with a four-goal effort in the third period.

James Sixsmith, extending his scoring streak to 12 consecutive games, put Utah ahead 1-0 on a goal just 6:36 into the game, using a screen to deflect Peter Aston's blast from the right point past goaltender Andrew Perugini.

Perugini made 14 saves in the period, including a pair of breakaway saves on Vlady Nikiforov and James Sixsmith.

The Thunder finally capitalized on Perugini's key saves and leveled the score, 1-1 on a power-play goal coming with 8:11 left in the second period by Bates. With the puck floating toward the high slot, Steve Vanoosten ripped a one-timer on net that caught a piece of Bates, scooting through Erickson's five-hole.

The tie carried into the third period until J.F. Caudron was whistled for delay of game penalty, interpreted as a clean clearing pass over the defensive zone glass. Utah capitalized and took the lead back on Galbraith's 14th goal of the season with 17:03 left in regulation, slipping a redirection from Tim Crowder past Perugini.

Just 20 seconds later, Steve McJannet's one-timer at the doorstep lifted the Utah lead to 3-1 when Tom May set up McJannet from behind the net.

The Thunder got back in the game through on Constant's blast just 1:32 later to slice the deficit to 3-2, taking a Colin Hemingway pass off an end zone faceoff and beating Erickson with a one-timer under the crossbar from the mid slot.

Yet, a Utah counterpunch goal just 1:12 after Constant's restored the two-goal margin at 4-2 on Galbraith's second goal of the game. He took a James Sixsmith drop pass at the left circle from off the rush and buried a one-timer over Perugini's left shoulder.

With the Thunder pressing for a late rally, two penalties in the last three minutes slowed the efforts and seconds after a penalty kill, Ryan Kinasewich sealed the game with an empty net goal with 26.8 seconds left.

Perugini took the loss in his first game back from an AHL recall, making 42 saves.

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