Thunder leads series 2-1 after loss, Fallon records shutout on 27 saves

April 9, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAS VEGAS - Joe Fallon made 27 saves for a shutout and his first win in seven playoff games, helping the Las Vegas Wranglers send the Stockton Thunder to a 3-0 defeat in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal before 2,658 fans at Orleans Arena on Monday.

The Thunder still leads the series 2-1 and was missing Eric Hunter, its second leading scorer during the regular season, due to a one game suspension handed by the ECHL. Olivier Roy took the loss with 23 saves and the Wranglers capitalized on goals by Scott Pitt, Judd Blackwater and Carlo Finucci in the final 40 minutes.

Las Vegas was able to break away from a scoreless tie with a shorthanded goal in the second period and a power play goal stemming from a five minute major early in the third period.

STOCKTON VS. LAS VEGAS- WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS (all times listed PT)

(Thunder leads, 2-1)

Game 1: Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

Game 2: Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

Game 3: Stockton 0 at Las Vegas 3

Game 4: Stockton at Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 9 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena)

Game 5: Stockton at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 10 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena)

Game 6: Las Vegas at Stockton - Friday, April 12 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *

Game 7: Las Vegas at Stockton - Sunday, April 14 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *

*If necessary

"I thought it was a good hockey game - both teams battled hard," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "Giving up a shorthanded goal and taking a five minute major took a lot of wind out of our sails. We had to push and didn't do enough things to generate opportunities or bury some of the chances we created."

The teams battled to a scoreless tie after one period, with Roy recording the top save of the opening 20 minutes, stopping a redirection by Eric Lampe of Las Vegas at the goal mouth.

Pitt cashed in with a shorthanded goal to put the Wranglers ahead 1-0 with 10:35 left in the second, beating Roy off his glove with a wrist shot at the left circle.

The Thunder battled to get back in the game but was stopped by multiple passes through the goal mouth that were deflected away by Fallon or his defensemen. Their best chance came late in the period when Gabriel Levesque received a tape to tape pass from the right corner, but was stopped by Fallon who moved off the post to cut off Levesque.

Andrew Clark then received an early exit for a hit on Channing Boe late in the period and earned a game misconduct and five minutes for checking from behind.

Before the Thunder was able to work out of the penalty kill, Blackwater picked the upper corner over Roy's left shoulder with a wrist shot from the right circle with 2:06 gone in the third period.

Finucci then sealed the game with a goal off the rush with 4:45 left in regulation, converting on a wrister from the right circle as the Wranglers capitalized off a turnover at the neutral zone.

"I still don't think we've played our best hockey yet which is a compliment - we can be much better," said Thomas. "We've had a lot of character tests and this is another thing that's testing our character. I'm confident we'll be able to rise to the occasion and be a much better team tomorrow."

NOTES: Hunter was the only Thunder scratch in the game ... the Thunder outshot Las Vegas 27-26 ... the matchup in Las Vegas was the first for both teams in the postseason since Game 7 of the 2009 Pacific Division Semifinal ... Stockton last won a playoff series when up 2-1, in the 2010 Pacific Division Semifinal against Bakersfield.

Game 4 is tomorrow at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, beginning at 7:05 p.m. (1360 AM KFIV/StocktonThunder.com).

A two time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets, Group Tickets and Mini-Plans for 2012-13 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

THREE STARS:

1. LV - J. Fallon

2. LV - M. Madill

3. LV - S. Pitt



ECHL Stories from April 9, 2013


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