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Thunder rally thwarted on Donally's overtime winner

April 13, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Ryan Donally scored a game-winning goal 28 seconds into sudden-death overtime to help the Las Vegas Wranglers send the Stockton Thunder to a 5-4 overtime loss in game 2 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before a crowd of 3,653 at Orleans Arena on Saturday.

Brandon Schwartz led the Thunder with a three point effort (2g-1a) and forced overtime in the final minute of regulation as the series is now tied 1-1 (best-of-seven), with the Thunder carrying home-ice advantage into the middle three games at Stockton Arena.

#8 STOCKTON VS. #1 LAS VEGAS - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

Game 1: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 2

Game 2: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 5 (OT)

Game 3: at Stockton - Sunday, April 13 - 6:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 4: at Stockton - Friday, April 18 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 5: at Stockton - Sunday, April 20 - 4:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 6: at Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 22 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) *

Game 7: at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 23 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena) *

* If necessary

Veteran defenseman Tim O'Connell scored his second goal of the playoffs to lift the Thunder to a 1-0 lead just 3:08 into the game, firing a blast from the left point past Las Vegas goaltender Kevin Lalande which also eluded traffic. Aki Seitsonen quickly knotted the score at 1-1 just 22 seconds later on a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Thunder goaltender Tim Boron off the rush.

Shawn Limpright put the Wranglers ahead 2-1 with 11:16 remaining in the first period, finishing Adam Miller left-wing pass in the mid slot. Veteran Peter Ferraro capped the three-goal bust by Las Vegas with his first goal of the playoffs just 33 seconds into the second period, extending the Las Vegas lead to 3-1 when he finished a rebound at the top of the crease during a delayed penalty.

The Thunder answered with Brandon Schwartz's power-play goal at the 5:09 mark of the second period for his first Kelly Cup Playoff goal, closing the deficit to 3-2 when he stripped Shawn Limpright in the slot and fired a wrist shot past the blocker of Lalande.

Jacob Micflikier chipped in with his first career playoff goal and tied the game at 3-3 with 6:51 gone in the third period, converting Stephane Goulet's centering pass from behind the net. However, Las Vegas provided an answer for the second time in the game on an ensuing shift and Tyler Mosienko restored the Las Vegas lead at 4-3 just 32 seconds later.

As the clocked ticked down to the final minute, the Thunder worked the puck in deep and drew an end-zone faceoff, pulling Boron for an extra skater and a 6-on-5 advantage. The strategy paid off when Sebastien Bisaillon's snap shot from the right point re-directed off Schwartz's screen below the hash marks and past Lalande's blocker to tie the game at 4-4 with 53.3 seconds left in regulation.

In the opening seconds of overtime, Donally won the game for Las Vegas just 28 seconds into the sudden-death session when Ferarro eluded a check behind the net and fed Mosienko at the base of the right circle who slid a one-touch pass to Donally, one-timing the feed past Boron at the doorstep.

NOTES: Scratches for the Thunder were Fredrik Johansson (healthy), Luke Lynes (healthy), David Rohlfs (injured reserve) and Phil Cole (injured reserve) ... the Thunder fell to an all-time 0-3 mark in overtime playoff games ... Boron made 41 saves in the game and has 80 combined saves in the first two games.

The series shifts to Stockton Arena for game 3, beginning at 6:00 p.m. when the Thunder hosts the Wranglers. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and is available on the internet (video and audio) at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.

The Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season tickets for 2008-09 and 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages are now on sale and individual ticket information for the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be announced soon. 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 April 13, 2008


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