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Thunder nabs first all-time win at Save Mart Center, Fisher stops 35

February 23, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie goaltender Glenn Fisher made 35 saves as the Stockton Thunder (20-29-3, 43 points) ended an eight-game winless skid and garnered its first all-time win in 12 games in Fresno, sinking the Fresno Falcons in a 3-2 victory before 6,408 at Save Mart Center on Friday night.

Fisher stopped the final 25 of 26 shots faced in the final two periods to preserve the victory, garnering his first win since January 16 when he guided the Thunder to a 2-1 home victory over Fresno, when he stopped 44 shots.

The Thunder roared out to a 3-1 lead through one period on goals by Pat Bateman, Adam Huxley and L.P. Lachance. Right wing Lance Monych, re-acquired in a trade with Mississippi on Wednesday, contributed on Bateman's goal to open up the scoring at 1-0 just 34 seconds into the game when Monych's blocked one-timer caromed in the slot to Bateman, who slid the rebound through the legs of Fresno goaltender Jake Moreland.

Huxley's second goal of the season lifted the Thunder to a 2-0 lead at the 6:41 mark when he finished a rebound at the top of the crease from Jason Beeman's missed opportunity at the base of the right circle.

All-star rookie Oren Eizenman buried his 25th goal of the season on a two-man advantage to help Fresno cut the Thunder lead to 2-1 with 6:08 left, but Lachance restored the two-goal advantage with 2:25 remaining on a power-play goal when he parked a rebound into a semi-open net after Moreland stopped Mark Adamek's wirst shot from the high slot.

Both teams played to a scoreless stalemate in the second period, with Thunder goaltender Glenn Fisher stopping all 10 shots by Fresno in the frame.

Brady Leisenring's power-play goal helped Fresno cut the Thunder advantage to one goal with 9:28 left in the third period, finishing a wrap-around attempt that deflected off the right skate of Fisher and into the net. Moreland was pulled from Fresno's net with a minute left in regulation for a 6-on-5 skating situation, but the Thunder defense tightened play in the middle of the ice to preserve the win.

NOTES: The Thunder missed the services of Ryan MacMurchy (injured reserve), Beau Geisler (injured reserve) and newly-acquired center Joel Stepp (travel) ... before the game, right wing Spencer Carbery was placed on the three-day injured reserve list ... Monych's assist hiked his scoring streak to five games (4g-2a) ... the Thunder improved to 3-5-0 in the season series against Fresno..

The Thunder finishes a three-game, intra-state road trip with a matchup against the Bakersfield Condors from Save Mart Center, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN (joined in progress) and 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.



ECHL Stories from February 23, 2008


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