Thunder Game Recap: Victoria 7 - Stockton 6

March 27, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Wes Goldie's goal with 50.9 seconds remaining in regulation snapped a 6-6 tie and helped the Victoria Salmon Kings send the Stockton Thunder (25-38-3, 53 points) to a 7-6 defeat before a crowd of 5,836 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The offensively-charged contest had the Thunder and Salmon Kings combining for 13 goals, tying the Thunder record for most goals in a game (combined with both teams), while Victoria all-star Ash Goldie had a career-high five points (3g-2a) and his fourth hat trick of the season, finishing one point shy of his six point effort at the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game at Stockton Arena.

The loss keeps the Thunder in a three-way tie for seventh place in the National Conference with idle Bakersfield and the Phoenix RoadRunners, who dropped a 2-1 loss in regulation to the Alaska Aces tonight.

Both teams exchanged goals in a 12-second span beginning with Chris St. Jacques' 10th goal of the year with 4:38 into the game for a 1-0 Victoria edge on a deflected shot by Patrick Coulombe. Rookie Fredrik Johansson followed with his fifth goal of the season when he corralled a dump-in at the left corner and glanced a shot off Victoria netminder Julien Ellis' skate.

Victoria restored their lead at 2-1 on a power-play goal by Marc-Andre Bernier with 10:55 left in the first period and Ash Goldie buried his 35th of the year and first goal of the game just 1:21 later, flipping a wrist shot under the crossbar to expand the Salmon Kings edge to 3-1.

David Rohlfs' power-play goal drew the Thunder to within a 3-2 deficit with 3:43 left in the first period on a one-timer from the base of the left circle that beat Ellis through the five-hole. It kick-started a Thunder rally of three goals that expanded two periods.

Rookie L.P. Lachance's third goal of the year tied the score at 3-3 with 3:55 elapsed in the second period. Veteran center Joel Stepp set-up the play with a saucer-pass behind the goal that found Lachance in the mid-slot, proceeding to beat Ellis with a snap shot through traffic.

Enforcer and former Salmon King Adam Huxley's fourth goal of the season ignited the crowd with the only lead for the Thunder in the game at 4-3 with 10:54 gone. Huxley converted on a left-wing partial breakaway and rebound effort just seconds after the Thunder nearly grabbed the lead on a snap shot by Brandon Schwartz that caromed off the goal post.

Ash Goldie's second goal of the game leveled the contest at 4-4 on a 5-on-3 power-play goal, flipping a wrist from the base of the right circle under the crossbar and over the outstretched glove of Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher, who substituted for original starter Tim Boron after one period. Coulombe's seventh goal of the season, Victoria's third power-play goal of the game, restored their lead at 5-4 just 51 seconds later. Coulombe took a rinkwide pass from Ash Goldie at the right circle and whipped a snap shot past Fisher's glove.

The Thunder responded on Ryan MacMurchy's 19th goal of the year to knot the score at 5-5 at the 7:28 mark of the third period, finishing a one-timer in the slot from a Tim O'Connell feed at the left circle. Just 10 seconds later, Goldie beat the Thunder defense into the slot for a breakaway and the hat trick goal for a 6-5 Victoria cushion.

The Thunder capitalized and the end of nearly four minutes of consecutive power-play time, including a 5-on-3 opportunity for 1:17 with Tim Verbeek's fifth goal of the season to level the score at 6-6, setting a screen in front of Ellis and re-directing Tyler Hirsch's blast from the high-slot into the net.

Wes Goldie's eventual game-winner and 37th goal of the year came with 50.9 seconds left when the Victoria veteran was set-up from Jordan Krestanovich and Ryan Wade's counter off a turnover at center ice. Goldie cut from the right wing corner and into the slot, followed by a stuffed wrist shot that eluded Fisher through the five-hole.

Boron made five saves for the Thunder while Fisher ended the night with 13 stops. Victoria's Ellis earned the win in net with 34 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder missed the services of Geoff Paukovich (illness), Phil Cole (injured reserve), Beau Geisler (injured reserve) and Ryan Geris (injured reserve) ... the Thunder fell to 0-5-1 in the season series against Victoria ... five different Thunder finished with multi-point games (Johansson, MacMurchy, Lance Monych, O'Connell and Verbeek) ... the Thunder finished at an efficient 2-for-9 mark on the power-play.

The Thunder returns to play on Friday, March 28 against the Idaho Steelheads, starting at 7:30 p.m. from Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live exclusively online (video and audio available) at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to the 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.

-- RATED "E" FOR EXCITEMENT --

THREE STARS: 1. VIC - 15 Ash Goldie 2. VIC - 16 Wes Goldie 3. STK - 19 Ryan MacMurchy

LINK TO BOXSCORE: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/text-game-report.php?game_id=5040



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