Thunder dump Wranglers in Matt Thomas' home debut as Head Coach

January 17, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The first line of Ryan Huddy, Mike Lalonde and James Bates combined for 10 points and six goals, helping turn a four-goal first period into a Stockton Thunder (15-17-5, 35 points) 7-2 rout of the Las Vegas Wranglers before a crowd of 6,902 at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

The win, which opens a six-game homestand for the Thunder and increased their winning streak to five games, tied a team record for most goals in one game (7) at home. Lalonde's four points (2g-2a) tied his single-game career-high and Bates posted the first multi-goal game of his career. Huddy pitched in with two goals of his own and Damian Surma contributed with a third period power-play goal.

It also made head coach Matt Thomas a winner in his Stockton Arena coaching debut, putting the Thunder at a 5-0-1 record since he took over as Thunder head coach.

Bates buried a rebound at 1:31 of the first period for his sixth goal of the year to put the Thunder ahead 1-0, followed just 15 seconds later by Lalonde's 9th goal of the season to stretch the advantage to 2-0. Lalonde took Toby LaFrance's faceoff win, coming after two fights in two consecutive shifts, and ripped a one-timer through goaltender Kevin Lalande's five-hole.

The Thunder pushed the lead to 3-0 at 6:09 of the opening frame when Huddy converted a backhander under the crossbar for his team-leading 19th goal of the year after Kenny MacAulay's shot produced a rebound at the right circle.

Lalonde's second goal of the game widened the gap to 4-0 with 11:35 left in the first period, deflecting in a pass from behind the goal line off the skate of Lalande. The goal chased Lalande in favor of the night's backup in John DeCaro, who closed the period by stopping the remaining seven shots by the Thunder.

Lalande was dispatched back into the net in the second period and Las Vegas respond when Mick Lawrence buried a power-play goal at 1:40 of the second period to cut the deficit to 4-1, snapping a shot in the slot that glanced off Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton's blocker-side shoulder.

Veteran Peter Ferraro cut the lead to 4-2 with a walk-out goal at the left circle that beat Pitton through his five-hole with 3:08 gone in the third period, but the Thunder seized momentum on the ensuing shift with Huddy's second of the game just 35 seconds later, putting Stockton up 5-2. Huddy converted a backdoor pass by Bates that beat Lalande to the glove side.

Surma's third goal of the year on the power-play pushed the Thunder lead to 6-2 when he lifted a rebound over a diving Lalande from the left circle with 12 minutes left in regulation. Bates closed out the scoring with 1:46 left in regulation when he snapped a one-timer past Lalande's glove from the slot, hiking the advantage to 7-2 on a centering pass from Lalonde.

Pitton made 22 saves for the Thunder, while Lalande took the loss with 23 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Ryan MacMurchy (injured reserve), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), David Rohlfs (injured reserve) and Jeff Kyrzakos (healthy) ... Justin Chwedoruk was placed on the three-day injured reserve list before the game, activating Lalonde for his first game since Dec. 28 ... there were three fights in the game, with Adam Huxley squaring off twice with Las Vegas counterpart Tim Spencer and Thunder rookie Garet Hunt battling with Shawn Limpright ... the Thunder outshot Las Vegas 37-24.

The Thunder returns to play for its next game on Saturday, Jan. 17 against the Idaho Steelheads at 7:30 p.m. from Stockton Arena. The game is available on radio exclusively online (audio is free-of-charge) for viewing 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 January 17, 2009


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