Thunder nearly rallies from three goal deficit in final 65 seconds

Published on March 24, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Jesse Gimblett earned a key third period goal and added an assist, enough to help the Bakersfield Condors escape and send the Stockton Thunder (32-31-5, 69 points) to a 6-5 defeat before 5,888 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

The Thunder, who trailed 6-3 with less than two minutes remaining, scored twice late in the game on Mike Little and Matt Reber goals to reach a one goal deficit and nearly stuffed two chances for a goal in the waning seconds of the game with an extra attacker.

"We battled and that's a good thing," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "But I said it to the guys and I'll say it again: to win in the playoffs, you need exceptional performances from individuals and the team and we didn't get that tonight."

Max Campbell buried two goals, Garet Hunt added a second period tally and Reber led the Thunder offense with a goal and two assists.

Bakersfield quickly raced out to a 2-0 lead and began their early run on Alex Hudson's slap shot off the rush that beat starting goaltender Olivier Roy from the right circle.

Parker Stanfield then followed up his own rebound after a missed wrist shot of the post and parked his 13th goal of the season to extend the Bakersfield edge to 2-0 with 7:37 remaining in the first period.

The Thunder saw its challenge to battle back become even greater after Cameron Abney was slapped with a five minute elbowing major penalty and game misconduct, but after an Eric Burgdoerfer tripping penalty to even up play, the Thunder responded.

As the major power play resumed, Campbell sniped his 12th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the left circle for the sixth Thunder shorthanded goal of the year with 3:01 remaining in the period.

Tyler Helfich's converted rebound attempt at 2:41 of the second boosted Bakersfield back to a two goal edge, followed by Robby Dee's breakaway tally just 43 seconds later for a 4-1 edge, lifting Roy in place for backup Shane Madolora.

Hans Benson beat him on his first attempt with a wrist shot from between the circles, set up by Gimblett to hike the Bakersfield lead to 5-1 with 8:16 left in the period, but the Thunder responded with some life.

Hunt's seventh goal of the season cut the gap to 5-2 on a rebound at the right circle, after Scott Greenham stopped Ryan Lowery's bid from the point.

Campbell then snuffed out a Condors turnover at the neutral zone and raced away on a breakaway, beating Greenham at the blocker side to slice the deficit to 5-3 with 1:27 left in the period.

Gimblett's key goal put Bakersfield up 6-3 with 4:21 elapsed in the third period when his screen re-directed Kyle Calder's one timer past Madolora.

Little cut it to a two goal deficit with 1:05 remaining when he stashed a rebound at the left post.

Following the goal, Madolora was pulled for an extra attacker and on the strength of sustained pressure, Jason Morgan put a slap pass into traffic from the left wing, catching Matt Reber's deflection that scooted through Greenham's five hole with 13.8 seconds left in regulation.

The Thunder won the ensuing faceoff at center ice and quickly flipped the puck into the offensive zone. Baker missed a chance at the right wing and Greenham turned aside a subsequent rebound chance at the left post.

Gimblett's tripping penalty at the front of the net set up a final faceoff at the right circle in the Bakersfield zone with one second remaining. With Baker lining up to quickly re-direct a potential faceoff win on net, his attempt deflected into the right corner to drain the clock.

Greenham earned the win with 36 saves.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Tony DeHart (injured reserve), Cameron Brodie (injured reserve), Nathan Deck (injured reserve), Gabriel Levesque (healthy) and Jody Pederson (healthy) ... Stockton outshot Bakersfield, 41-25 ... Chris D'Alvise earned an assist for his tenth point in the last eight games ... Stockton fell to 7-5-0 in the head to head series.

The Thunder concludes the home portion of the regular season schedule tomorrow, hosting the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m. to wrap up the weekend's "Fan Appreciation" event. The game will be carried on radio at 1280 AM KWSX and online for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets 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 http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ .

THREE STARS

1. BAK - 5 Ryan Annesley

2. STK - 9 Max Campbell

3. BAK - 6 Alex Hudson

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