Thunder game recap: Stockton 4 - Idaho 0

Published on November 3, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie goaltender Glenn Fisher stopped 26 shots and center Ryan O'Marra scored two goals to lead the Stockton Thunder (3-3-0, 6 pts) to a 4-0 win over the Idaho Steelheads in front of 8,105 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder stretches its winning streak to three games with the victory.

Fisher earned his second consecutive shutout in the win, and has not been scored upon in 121:40 of play.

A scoreless opening period saw Stockton and Idaho trade scoring chances vying for the all-important first tally. Just over 2 minutes into the contest, Fisher denied Steelheads center Matt Craig in-close, turning aside Craig's wrist-shot attempt from 15-feet out with a chest stop. Stockton countered with a short-handed offensive opportunity as center Brandon Schwartz fed a streaking David Rohlfs up the right side. Idaho goaltender Steve Silverthorn proceeded to turn aside Rohlfs' wrist-shot attempt from the right face-off circle with a pad stop.

Fisher would frustrate Craig on the ensuing Steelheads power-play five minutes into the frame, again denying the centerman with a sprawling cross-crease save on a shot attempt from the inside the right face-off circle. The Thunder goaltender capped the period with a break-away stop on Steelheads forward Marty Flichel on the tail-end of a feed from Craig inside the Stockton end.

Thunder center Geoff Paukovich nearly opened the scoring in the latter half of the period, corralling a rebound off a Rohlfs shot attempt to the right of the Idaho goal. Paukovich's back-hand attempt would hit the goal post glove-side on Silverthorn.

Thunder right-winger Jesse Bennefield opened the scoring at the 18:32 mark of the second period on the power-play, the recipient of a cross-crease tape-to-tape feed from left-winger Jacob Micflikier positioned to the left of Silvethorn beyond the goal-line. Bennefield converted the one-timer off the Micflikier pass from the right corner for his 5th goal of the season, and a 1-0 Thunder lead.

O'Marra upped the Thunder lead to 2-0 at the 14:14 mark of the third period, as Stockton capitalized on a 2-man advantage. The Thunder center beat Silverthorn with a snap-shot stick-side from the left face-off circle to record his 3rd goal of the season.

Thunder defenseman Sebastien Bisaillon tallied his 1st ECHL goal, a power-play marker at 15:32, converting a one-time feed from defenseman Beau Geisler from the point. Bisaillon's blast got by Silverthorn high to the stick-side and gave Stockton a 3-0 lead.

O'Marra would cap the scoring with his 4th goal of the season, an empty-net marker at 18:06 to lift the Thunder to a 4-0 advantage.

Geisler - in his season debut and Micflikier each recorded two assists for Stockton in the contest. The Thunder converted 3-of-8 power-play opportunities on the night, outshooting the Steelheads 31-26.

Before the game, the Thunder activated defenseman Beau Geisler from the seven-day injured reserve list, placed defenseman Ryan Geris on the three-day injured reserve and left wing Paul Caponigri on the seven-day injured reserve list (retroactive to October 31).

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow against the Idaho Steeleheads, starting at 7:30 p.m. from Stockton Arena as part of "Thunder Goes Pink II." The game can be heard live on radio at 1420 KSTN and on the internet (video and audio available) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



ECHL Stories from November 3, 2007


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