Thunder drop third straight loss in Eizenman's debut

February 20, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Tom May scored a pair of goals to lead the Utah Grizzlies in a five-goal run in the first and second period, sending the Stockton Thunder (24-24-5, 53 points) to its third straight loss, 5-2 in front of a crowd of 6,231 at The E-Center on Friday.

The game marked the debut of Thunder center Oren Eizenman, a 2008 ECHL All-Star who was signed by the Thunder as free agent on the same day. Eizenman tallied an assist while defensemen Matt O'Dette and Daryl Marcoux scored for Stockton. Utah, who scored four goals on six shots in the second period, were aided by goals from Tim Verbeek, Scott Thauwald and James Brannigan.

May, who increased his scoring streak to 12 straight games, opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal and his 19th of the season with 3:59 left in the first period, converting a odd-man rush with a snap shot that beat Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini through the five-hole.

Verbeek hiked the Utah lead to 2-0 with his team-leading 23rd goal of the season at 3:42 of the second period, tapping in a centering feed from Tyler Wooddisse from the left goal post.

Thauwald followed with his 7th goal of the year, finishing Andy Sertich's centering pass from behind the net to make it 3-0 at 10:25. James Brannigan's one-timer from the left point found the back of the net for his 8th of the season on a power-play goal, pushing the Utah lead to 4-0 with 6:23 left in the period.

Just 51 seconds later, May scored his second of the game on a penalty shot with a backhanded deke to finish the Utah rally, seconds after he got behind the Thunder defense on a breakaway and was hooked from behind.

O'Dette got the Thunder on the scoreboard with his fifth goal of the year, coming on the power-play with 2:49 left in the middle frame on a centering feed by Eizenman from behind the net.

Utah, who had just 13 skaters available for the game and shut down the Thunder attack with a scrappy and defensive-minded style, relinquished the game's final goal on a Marcoux blast from the left point that beat goaltender Michael Mole through the five-hole with 1:42 left in the game.

Mole had to make just 23 saves to earn his 12th win of the season.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), and Cleve Kinley (injured reserve) ... the Thunder outshot Utah 25-21 and finished 1-for-6 on the power-play ... May's penalty shot goal was the first given up by the Thunder this season and the third in club history ... the Thunder dropped its fourth straight game at The E-Center, dating back to April, 2008 and fell to 1-3-0 in the season series.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow against Utah for a 6:05 p.m. faceoff from The E-Center. The game is available exclusively for viewing online (audio is free-of-charge) for a $7 charge at http://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 http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.



ECHL Stories from February 20, 2009


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