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Thunder posts 11-second comeback, Joe Talbot nets shootout winner

January 25, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. * Joe Talbot scored a game-winning shootout goal in the fifth round as the Stockton Thunder (19-9-8, 46 points) settled for a 4-3 shootout loss to the Alaska Aces before 4,218 at Sullivan Arena on Wednesday night.

Talbot scored the winner on a wrist shot while racing down the middle on Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth, followed by Derek Gustafson's stop on center Tyler Spurgeon.

Alaska capitalized off a freak bounce from a dump-in attempt to take a 1-0 lead just 6:41 into the contest. Ellsworth retreated behind his net to stall the dumped puck, which rolled off his stick blade and into the slot for an open Ryan MacMurchy, who pumped the loose puck into a wide-open net for his third goal of the season.

Thunder assistant captain and defenseman Tim O'Connell scored his ninth goal of the campaign with 5:24 left for a 1-1 tie. With Stockton nursing a power-play, forward Tim Sestito drilled a slapshot from the right point that Alaska goaltender Derek Gustafson kicked to the left circle. O'Connell pinched down the left wing and slipped a rebound over a sliding Gustafson for the game-tying marker.

Stockton continued the game at a disciplined pace by allowing the offensively-loaded Aces just one power-play through two periods, but fell behind at 2-1 score through two periods on Joe Talbot's ninth goal of the year for Alaska at the 14:20 mark.

Alaska posted a record of 22-0-1 while entering the third period with a lead but the Thunder threatened the staggering mark early with two goals in 11 seconds, beginning with Mike Lalonde's 14th goal of the season just 39 seconds into the frame.

Lalonde finished a centering feed from Nathan Martz while camped at the base of the right circle. Off the ensuing faceoff, Tim Sestito raced down the left wing on an outnumbered attack and fed right wing Stephen Slonina in the deep slot, who roofed a wrist shot over Gustafson's glove.

Kimbi Daniels evened the game at the 4:42 mark for a 3-3 score, as a run-and-gun affair produced a penalty shot for Sestito with 2:06 left in the third. Sestito beat Gustafson to the glove side but his wrist shot rang off the right post.

After Slonina was denied on a point-blank shorthanded bid at the end of overtime, Joe Talbot converted the game-winner in the fifth round.

Ellsworth snaps a six-game losing streak in regulation, moving his record to 7-6-2. Stockton has not lost in regulation this season to Alaska and has a 1-0-3 mark against the Aces.

The Thunder and Aces face a rematch Friday, January 26, beginning at 8:15 p.m. PT at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing for a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Thunder season tickets, mini-plans 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.



ECHL Stories from January 25, 2007


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