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Thunder inches closer to playoff berth on Pepperall's winner, Dubnyk's 34 stops

March 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Veteran center Colin Pepperall scored an early third-period game-winning goal while all-star goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 34 saves as the Stockton Thunder (28-22-10, 66 pts) held off the Idaho Steelheads in a 3-2 victory before 6,873 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

The Thunder continues to maintain sole possession of sixth place in the National Conference and requires six points to clinch a playoff berth after Long Beach lost to Bakersfield 4-2 tonight.

Thunder right-winger Tim Verbeek opened the scoring at the 9:48 mark of the first period on the power-play, re-directing a Stephane Goulet slap shot from atop the right face-off circle past the outstretched glove of Steelheads goaltender Steve Silverthorn to give Stockton a 1-0 lead. The goal was Verbeek's 14th on the season.

Thunder defenseman Jason Beckett came close to doubling the Stockton advantage later in the frame, managing to corral a loose puck off a Liam Reddox scoring drive towards the slot. Beckett's snapshot attempt from the right face-off circle was turned aside by Silverthorn, sprawling to stop the fluttering puck out of mid-air.

Dubnyk preserved the Stockton lead with just under five minutes remaining in the period, snaring a slap shot attempt from Steelheads defenseman Steve Chabbert from the right face-off circle with his glove to maintain the 1-0 score line. The Thunder would respond with a pair of legitimate scoring opportunities by Goulet and center Nathan Martz respectively, both denied by Silverthorn pad saves in the late stages of the period.

Stockton struck early in the second period, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity at the 3:13 mark to take a 2-0 lead. Thunder left-winger Brock Radunske managed to gain position on Steelheads defenseman Darrell Hay in close proximity to the Idaho goal crease and deflect a Beau Geisler shot attempt from the right point past Silverthorn to score his 5th goal of the season.

Dubnyk would frustrate Idaho forwards again at the eight minute mark of the period with a well-timed poke check on the Steelheads' Scott Burt as the left-winger attempted to deke the Thunder goaltender going left to right. The Steelheads would cut the Thunder lead in half at 12:01 on the power-play as right-winger Marty Flichel beat Dubnyk with a slap-shot stick-side from the left face-off circle. Flichel's 33rd goal of the season made the score 2-1.

Idaho forward B.J. Crombeen leveled the score at 2-2 on a Steelheads power-play at the 17:15 mark of the period, the recipient of a tape-to-tape backhand feed from right-winger Derek Nesbitt streaking into Stockton territory down the right side. Nesbitt's pass found Crombeen alone in the slot, and he proceeded to beat Dubnyk with a one-timer glove-side for his 2nd goal of the season.

The Thunder scored the eventual game-winner at the 1:28 of the third period during the first half of a four minute power-play as Beckett fed a cross-ice pass to a streaking Pepperall, headed directly towards the Idaho goal. Pepperall's one-timer slid past Silverthorn glove-side to restore a Stockton lead at 3-2. The Thunder center's tally was his 3rd on the year.

Dubnyk stood tall in the waning minutes of regulation time, turning aside a 25-foot eye-level slapshot attempt by Steelheads defenseman Kyle Peto, and a point-blank backhand scoring opportunity by forward Taggart Desmet to protect the Stockton lead. The Thunder would withstand a final Steelheads flurry at 6-on-4 during the period's final 25.1 seconds to earn the victory.

The Thunder heads south for a Saturday, March 17 road duel with the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Recently named host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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.

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Three Stars:

1. STK - Colin Pepperall

2. STK- Devan Dubnyk

3. STK - Brock Radunske

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