Thunder hit the All-Star break at .500

Published on January 17, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Defenseman JustinDaCosta's third period power-play goal snapped a 2-2 tie with 12:12 remaining, helping lift the Stockton Thunder (16-16-5, 37 points) to a 4-2 victory over the Pacific Division rival Ontario Reign before a crowd of 4,932 at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

The Thunder, who reached the .500 mark for the first time since Nov. 7 and have ripped off a 5-0-2 run in the last seven home games, moved ahead of the idle Las Vegas Wranglers into sixth place in the National Conference and second in the Pacific Division heading into the All-Star break.

Garet Hunt, Jason Pitton and Igor Gongalsky (empty net goal) added to the Thunder scoring, while goaltender Andrew Perugini made 30 saves to earn the win. Stockton also snapped an 0-for-18 drought on the power-play with two man-advantage goals (2-for-7 mark).

Hunt broke the scoreless tie with his third goal of the season with 4:10 left in the first period, picking up a loose puck in the slot and burying a wrist shot through Curtis Darling's five-hole.

The Thunder outshot Ontario, 16-12 in the first period and Perugini stopped all 12 shots he faced.

A power-play goal for Pitton lifted the Thunder lead to 2-0 with 3:58 gone in the second period, when he set a screen in front of Darling and re-directed Judd Blackwater's wrist shot from the right point.

Ontario got back in the game on Sean O'Connor's first goal in a Reign uniform just 2:49 later, when he scored off the rush with a snap shot to the top right corner of the net from 40 feet away in the slot.

Perugini kept Ontario at bay with 22 saves through two periods.

O'Connor finally leveled the score at 2-2 with 4:58 elapsed in the final period, when he tapped in a loose puck behind Perugini after making a sprawling save at the right post on Jon Francisco.

The Thunder responded after O'Connor's holding penalty with DaCosta's eventual game-winner, taking a 3-2 lead when DaCosta ripped a rebound to the back of the net from the left circle after Darling stopped Matt Robinson's wrist shot that came on a set-up along with Oren Eizenman.

Ontario mounted a rally in the final minute after Judd Blackwater was whistled for closing his hand on the puck, giving the Reign a 6-on-4 power-play after pulling Darling for an extra attacker. After Tony Voce's bid from the right circle was stopped by Perugini, Gongalsky spun the puck 180 feet down the ice and into the empty net, sealing the game at 4-2 with 27.8 seconds left in the game.

Darling made 29 saves in the loss for Ontario.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Steve Vanoosten (healthy), Brett Hemingway (injury, day-to-day), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Bobby Davey (injured reserve) ... Stockton improved to 4-2-0 this season against Ontario ... Eizenman netted an assist in his first game back from an AHL loan to the Milwaukee Admirals and now has four points in his last five ECHL games ... the Thunder wore their gold-colored third jerseys for the game.

The Thunder returns to play after the All-Star break on Friday, continuing the 11-game homestand against the Alaska Aces, beginning at 7:300 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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/.

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ECHL Stories from January 17, 2010


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