Thunder push for overtime by gaining point, fall to Doyle's 42-save effort

Published on January 23, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Frank Doyle made 42 saves for his sixth straight win and made all four saves in a shootout, helping the Alaska Aces send the Stockton Thunder (16-16-6, 38 points) to a 2-1 shootout loss before 5,160 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

The Thunder, who improved their run to 5-0-3 in the last eight home games, remain tied for sixth in the National Conference with the Las Vegas Wranglers and gained a point with the help of goaltender Andrew Perugini's 26 saves. Chris D'Alvise scored a power-play goal for the Thunder and Alaska received a first period marker from T.J. Fast.

Judd Blackwater, making his Alaska debut following a trade from the Thunder on Thursday for Colin Hemingway, wrapped up the game with a shootout-deciding goal in the fourth round.

Fast's goal put Alaska on the board first with 6:05 gone in the first period, when he converted a backhander in the slot after Andrew Perugini denied Alexandre Imbeault's one-timer from the left point.

Doyle made 12 saves in the first period to keep the Thunder at bay.

The Thunder leveled the score at 1-1 with six minutes left in the second period on a power-play goal of their own, when D'Alvise finished off a rebound at the right side of the crease after Frank Doyle's stop on Matt Robinson from the left corner.

Both Perugini and Doyle battled through the second period, with the Thunder thwarted on a breakaway by Igor Gongalsky and a Hemingway snap shot from the right circle that was swallowed up by Doyle.

The third period produced more goaltending theatrics from both teams and Hemingway nearly missed helping give the Thunder the lead late regulation, when his backdoor pass from the right wing bounced over J.F. Caudron's stick at the left circle.

The Thunder outshot Alaska, 15-9 in the period. A too many men on the ice penalty gave the Thunder a 4-on-3 power-play, but nearly missed winning the game again on a J.F. Caudron chance in the slot, followed by an acrobatic glove save by Doyle on James Bates at the crease with less than two seconds remaining.

In the shootout, Doyle and Perugini traded stops in the first five shots before Alexandre Imbeault helped Alaska break through on a forehand deke in the bottom of the third round. After a Doyle save on Bates' forehand deke, Blackwater finished the game by slipping a backhander through Perugini's five-hole.

NOTES: The Thunder dressed seven defensemen and scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Brett Hemingway (injury, day-to-day) and Craig Valette (injured reserve)... Stockton improved to 9-0-4 in the last 13 games, lifetime against Alaska... the Thunder went 1-for-4 on the power play and outshot the Aces, 43-28... Mark Pavli made his Thunder debut and recorded three shots on goal... the Thunder wore special "throwback style" black jerseys that featured the "STOCKTON" wordmark across the front of the jersey, diagonally that will be auctioned off after Saturday's game... Alaska donned their powder-blue colored third jerseys.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow to continue the 11-game homestand against the Alaska Aces, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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. AK - 1 Frank Doyle

2. AK - 17 Judd Blackwater

3. STK - 35 Andrew Perugini

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