Thunder Fall at Bako 3-2 in OT

Published on April 12, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder lost 3-2 in overtime on the road against the Bakersfield Condors, setting up a first round Kelly Cup playoff match-up for the Thunder against the Ontario Reign.

The Stockton Thunder (32-31-2-6) lost in overtime for only the second time this season, falling 3-2 to the Bakersfield Condors (35-29-2-4) in their final road game of the regular season. Chase Schaber had the game-winning goal with just 5.8 seconds left in OT.

It marked the second straight game where the Thunder failed to hold onto a one-goal lead going into the third period. Nick Tremblay and Joey Martin scored for Stockton to build a 2-0 lead in the second period. Goaltender Parker Milner finished the game with 31 saves, but was bested by fellow rookie goaltender Laurent Brossoit with 30 stops.

The loss clinches the seventh seed for the Thunder in the Western Conference playoffs. The team can no longer catch Bakersfield for sixth. With a win earlier in the night by the Alaska Aces, the Thunder now know who they will play in the first round of the 2014 Kelly Cup playoffs. The Ontario Reign will be their opponent as the Pacific Division champions and number two seed in the Western Conference standings.

The first period was a flurry of end-to-end hockey with the teams combining for 28 shots in the first 20 minutes. Neither team could find a way past the goaltenders who stood strong under a barrage of shots. Bakersfield had the better chances with Gary Steffes hitting the post on a backhand shot, and former Thunder player Greg Miller finding the crossbar with a shot from between the hash marks. Milner had 16 saves in the first frame to Brossoit's 12.

The breakthrough took a while to come even in the second period. Near the midway point of the hockey game, with 9:19 gone in the frame, Tremblay stole the puck off the stick of Bakersfield defenseman Joey Leach, and raced into the offensive zone for a breakaway. He held his nerve before making a late deke to his forehand, sending the shot into the net off the post on Brossoit's blocker side. The goal was scored during four-on-four play.

The goal was Tremblay's second in as many games and second in just four games total in a Thunder uniform. The goal was also special as it came against Tremblay's former team. The 26-year-old forward from Candiac, Quebec was moved from Bakersfield to Stockton through an AHL trade between the Oklahoma City Barons and Bridgeport Sound Tigers that sent Miller to the Condors.

The lead was 2-0 for Stockton with 4:27 left in the second period. Ryan Hayes sent a post-to-post pass across the crease for a score by Martin on the power play. Brossoit made the initial save on Martin's one-timer, but the Thunder's leading scorer stuck with it and slid home the rebound for his 21st goal of the season.

Bakersfield was handed a lifeline after Matt Mangene was called for a boarding penalty late in the period. Defenseman Collin Bowman rifled a shot home from the point past a screened Milner to cut the lead to 2-1 with just 1:51 to go in the frame. It was Bowman's 5th goal of the season.

The Thunder started the third period on a defensive note, clearing pucks away from their own end and playing a possession game to limit the number of Condors chances. Through ten minutes, Bakersfield had just two shots, one a sparkling glove save from Milner up high. The Condors continued to build momentum and eventually got the equalizer with just 4:32 to go in the game.

Once again Bowman played a part as the defenseman took a shot from the right wing circle, aiming for the stick of teammate Chris Collins. The forward deflected the puck past Milner to even things up at 2-2 and send the game to overtime. It was Collins' 16th goal of the season.

The Thunder needed a win in overtime, rather than the shootout, to give themselves more than just the smallest of possibilities to get the sixth overall seed in the playoffs, but both scoring chances they created were stopped by Brossoit. In the final minute of OT the Condors possessed the puck in the offensive zone. A deflected shot fell to the stick of Schaber, and the reigning ECHL Player of the Week fired a shot that trickled through the pads of Milner and across the goal line for the 3-2 victory.

With the win, the Condors have a chance to get the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings, as they are now even on points with Colorado. The Eagles have one game remaining, while Bakersfield has two games left on their schedule this weekend.

The Thunder return home to finish off the 2013-14 regular season against the Las Vegas Wranglers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. PST. The first 1,500 fans entering Stockton Arena will receive a free Thunder rally towel. It is also Group Appreciation Night, with discounted tickets available for any group that had a night out at a Thunder home game this season. For more information, visit StocktonThunder.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from April 12, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central