Thunder rallies from two-goal deficit

November 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Stockton Thunder (7-1-1, 15 points) left wing Tim Sestito scored a game-tying, third period shorthanded goal and added the game-winning shootout goal in the fifth round, leading the Thunder to a come-from-behind 6-5 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads before 3,229 at Qwest Arena on Sunday.

Bouncing back from a five-goal loss on Saturday, the Thunder won two games in the three-game set in Boise and is now 2-1-1 on the six-game road trip.

Idaho took a 3-2 lead through the first period, beginning with Derek Nesbitt's power-play goal 5:29 into the game on a one-timer through the right circle, finishing Mike Gabinet's left point feed. The Thunder responded at the 12:51 mark with Mike Lalonde's 5-on-3 goal for his third tally of the year, pounding home a rebound past Idaho netminder John Daigneau's blocker side.

Idaho took a 2-1 lead on red-hot Marty Flichel's shorthanded goal at 16:47 for his ninth of the year, beating Thunder goaltender Cam Ellsworth over the glove while on a breakaway. Veteran defenseman Tim O'Connell drew Stockton to a 2-2 tie at the 17:44 mark with his second goal of the game, wristing a shot through traffic that beat Daigneau through his stick side. Tuomas Mikkonen finished the first period scoring with Idaho's third goal of the frame at 18:42, burying a one-timer at the left side of the crease from a Lance Galbraith feed from the right corner.

The Thunder deficit expanded to 4-2 with 2:10 gone in the second period, when Steelheads enforcer Jeremy Yablonski batted in a fluttering puck on the doorstep for his first goal of the year after finishing Taggert Desmet's right corner set-up. Beau Geisler drew the Thunder to within a 4-3 deficit at 9:59 on a two-man advantage goal, sniping home a 30-foot shot from the right point.

Galbraith extended the Idaho lead back to two at 14:58, when he deked Ellsworth to the stick side and buried a forehand bid from the left side of the crease.

The Stockton comeback began at the third period's 6:12 mark, when Troy Bodie broke up an Idaho clearing attempt at the left blue line, skated into the slot and beat Daigneau to the stick side for his third goal of the year. Stockton appeared to tie the game a short time later at 9:10, when Lalonde buried a wrist shot from an end-zone faceoff, but had his apparent goal waved off on Geisler's interference penalty only a few feet away from Lalonde's shot in the slot.

Just 45 seconds later while shorthanded, Stockton made it count when Sestito raced behind the defense and finished Lalonde's home run pass, beating Daigneau to the stick side on a breakaway to tie the game at 5-5.

Steve Silverthorn replaced Daigneau in net to make six stops on the Thunder through the remainder of the third and overtime, while Ellsworth finished with 22 saves for Stockton.

Thunder assistant captain Brendon Hodge and Idaho's Darrell Hay traded shootout goals going into the last of the fifth round, with Sestito burying the game-winning shootout tally by faking Silverthorn to the stick side.

Lalonde (1g-1a), Geisler (1g-1a) and Hodge (two assists) led the Thunder in scoring for the game, while Francis Wathier's two assists and Galbraith's goal and assist paced Idaho offensively.

The Thunder resumes its final leg of the six-game road trip beginning Thursday, November 16, with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Victoria Salmon Kings at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The game's broadcast will be available 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.

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Three Stars: 1. IDH * Lance Galbraith

2. IDH * Marty Flichel

3. STK * Tim Sestito



ECHL Stories from November 12, 2006


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