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Thunder Gain Point, Fall in Overtime to Three-Goal Rally by Steelheads

November 19, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Marty Flichel scored two goals to help rally the Idaho Steelheads out of a 2-0 hole after two periods, upending the Stockton Thunder (5-6-3, 13 points) in a 3-2 overtime decision before 2,830 at Qwest Arena on Wednesday.

Idaho scored all three goals on the power-play and got the game-tying goal by Steve Gainey with less than four minutes left in regulation. Mike Lalonde and Ryan MacMurchy scored for the Thunder, who were guided to an overtime point in the standings with rookie Andrew Perugini's 32 saves. Perugini remains unbeaten in regulation with a 3-0-2 record.

Both teams played to a scoreless tie through one period. Idaho outshot the Thunder 8-7 with both teams exchanging two power-plays apiece. The Thunder responded to Idaho's tenacity in the offensive zone through the opening minutes by outshooting the Steelheads 6-0 in the final several minutes.

Mike Lalonde's fourth goal of the year lifted the Thunder to a 1-0 lead at the second period's 8:30 mark, converting a one-timer on the doorstep after Ryan Huddy fed him from behind the net. Less than six minutes later, Ryan MacMurchy converted his third goal of the season to hike the Thunder lead to 2-0 at the 14:19 mark, re-directing Colin McDonald's feed from the left circle that zipped past goaltender Rejean Beauchemin's blocker.

Perugini made seven saves in the second period to keep the Steelheads at-bay.

Idaho began their comeback with 12:47 left in regulation with Flichel's sixth goal of the year, ripping a one-timer from the left point through a screen and cutting the Thunder lead to 2-1. Following a delay of game penalty assessed to MacMurchy for clearing the puck over the glass from the defensive zone, Steve Gainey captalized on a third-chance rebound with 3:28 remaining to knot the score at 2-2.

Flichel ended the game with a minute into overtime with a one-timer that eluded a screen and Perugini's blocker side for his seventh of the season.

Idaho's Rejean Beauchemin made 31 saves for the Steelheads.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched James Bates (healthy), Jeff Kryzakos (healthy), Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Mark Adamek (injured reserve) and Toby LaFrance (injured reserve) ... Idaho outshot the Thunder 35-33 ... Lalonde's goal was his second in as many games after breaking a nine-game goal-scoring drought ... Huddy's assist extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games ... Idaho's win extended the Thunder's winless streak at Qwest Arena to six consecutive games.

The Thunder return to play on Friday, Nov. 21 against the Idaho Steelheads from Quest Arena, starting at 6:10 p.m. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN and for viewing on the internet 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 November 19, 2008


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