Thunder remains undefeated on young season, wins fifth in a row

November 5, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Jeff Lang's first goal of the season at the 12:48 mark of the third period broke a 2-2 tie, lifting the Stockton Thunder (5-0-0) to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 8,209 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

Lang's goal, a power-play tally, came just 37 seconds after Tim O'Connell beat RoadRunners goaltender Josh Tordjman with a point-shot to square the contest at two. The Thunder, capitalizing on some late RoadRunners penalty trouble, tied a franchise mark with a five-game unbeaten streak.

Phoenix began the scoring at the 17:05 mark of the first period, when Scott May deflected home Alexandre Rouleau's left point shot from 30 feet out for a power-play goal and a 1-0 lead. May followed only 1:26 into the second period to hike Phoenix's lead to 2-0, when Rouleau fed May at the left circle and beat Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk past his stick side.

The Thunder was stymied by Tordjman's 27 saves through two periods, but opened the floodgates at the 3:53 mark of the third period, cutting the Phoenix lead in half on a deflection goal from Tim Sestito, following up a tip from Adam Huxley for his first goal in a Thunder uniform.

O'Connell's marker tied the game at 2-2 at the 12:11 mark while the Thunder nursed a 5-on-3 power-play, followed by Lang's game-winning 5-on-3 goal where the Thunder blueliner retrieved a blocked shot, and ripped a 30-foot bomb past Tordjman's stick side from the left point.

Dubnyk improved his record to 4-0-0, who stopped 30 shots in the game for the Thunder. Stockton remains as the only team in the ECHL with a perfect record.

Before the game, the Thunder announced center Nathan Martz was activated from bereavement leave, and left wing Cam Abbott and center Chris Abbott were each granted their release, eligible for waiver claims.

The Thunder embarks on a six-game road trip to face the RoadRunners in the second game of a "home-and-home" style series on Tuesday, November 7, beginning at 6:11 p.m. PT at U.S. Airways Center. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" rate 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 November 5, 2006


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