Thunder outshoots Idaho 45-28, Toews scores winner in final minute

Published on February 2, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - David Toews capped off a two goal rally with 42 seconds left, and the Idaho Steelheads (28-11-1-4, 61 points) came back to defeat the Stockton Thunder 3-2 (23-17-5-3, 54 points) in front of 5,120 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

"It's disappointing," Thunder head coach Matt Thomas said, "It's unacceptable, really. Guys fall down in the game, and obviously [Kevin] Noble falling down came at the wrong time, especially to fall down and trip up your partner. For us to kind of back check and not get a save, it just couldn't be any worse in the last minute of the hockey game, where we played well enough and should've won the hockey game."

For the Thunder, it was just the second time this season that the team has lost a game which it led going into the third period.

"It's very disappointing considering our effort tonight," center Harrison Reed said afterwards, "I thought we played pretty well. We got a lot of opportunities, but it's disappointing to have to lose like that."

Reed and forward Maxime Boisclair each tallied a goal and an assist. Defenseman Ryan Constant recorded the 100th assist of his ECHL career on Reed's goal.

Goaltender Tyler Bunz (11-10-3), returning to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 12, stopped 25 shots, while Josh Robinson made 43 saves for Idaho.

The Thunder jumped on the board when a shot from defenseman Tony DeHart at the point rocketed off Reed's stick and Robinson's pads, right to Boisclair. Boisclair pounced on the rebound and put the Thunder up 1-0 16:46 into the first period.

In the second frame, Toews tried to get by Bunz with a deke. Bunz made the initial save, but the rebound fell to Tyler Gron, who put it in the net to tie the score at 1-1 14:54 into the second period.

It took less than three minutes for the Thunder to provide a response. On a power play, Defenseman Ryan Constant found Boisclair at the left circle. Boisclair sent the puck towards goal, where Reed managed to get a stick to it, poking it through Robinson's legs to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead 17:52 into the middle frame.

The Steelheads tied the game on a power play of their own when Jace Coyle hit a shot from the point that went through traffic and into the goal. Coyle's goal came at the 11:16 mark of the third period and knotted the game up at 2-2.

With just 42 seconds left in regulation, Toews took the puck at the blue line and skated towards goal. Toews lifted a shot into the roof of the net to beat Bunz and score the dagger goal, putting the game at its final score of 3-2.

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