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Thunder salvage point for second straight game

January 16, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Mitch O'Keefe made a season-high 43 saves and stopped four of five shots from the Stockton Thunder (14-16-5, 33 points) in a shootout, helping the Utah Grizzlies steal a 2-1 shootout win over the Thunder before 4,828 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

The Thunder, who outshot the Grizzlies 44-31 and claimed a point in their second straight game while engulfed in a franchise record 11-game homestand, helped force overtime with a second period goal from all-star center Chris D'Alvise. A shorthanded goal from James Sixsmith, playing in his first game following an AHL call-up, marked the only Utah goal in regulation stages.

Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton made 29 saves to help force overtime and moved his record to 6-1-1 in his last eight decisions. Brett Parnham struck in the third round of the shootout for the eventual game-winner, while O'Keefe denied Thunder forward Matt Robinson in the fifth round to seal the game.

With the Thunder controlling much of the play through the first period with an 18-11 shot advantage, an errant turnover led to a shorthanded goal by Sixsmith, who struck at 17:21 on a 2-on-1 chance when he took Tim Crowder's centering pass in the slot and beat Pitton through the five-hole with a backhanded deke.

D'Alvise finally broke through O'Keefe in the second period when he leveled the score at 1-1 with his 13th goal of the year, finishing Jason Pitton's centering pass from behind the net with a one-timer that beat O'Keefe under the crossbar from below the hash marks.

The period capped off a Thunder rally where they outshot Utah, 15-3 in the middle frame.

Utah apparently took a 2-1 lead in the third period on a deflected goal by Patrick Asselin with less than five minutes left that clipped his body from above the crossbar's height, but the goal was disallowed. Utah's Matt Clarke was whistled for high sticking when the horn sounded at the third period, but the Thunder fell short in finding the net on the 4-on-3 power play, during overtime.

Justin DaCosta's forehand deke in the second round of the shootout put the Thunder ahead 1-0, but Utah answered with back-to-back goals from A.J. Perry's backhanded attempt that snuck inside the right post and Parnham's goal in the third round, converting a backhanded deke over Pitton's glove.

O'Keefe officially wrapped up the game when he closed the five-hole on Robinson's wrist shot in the low slot during the fifth round.

NOTES: Before the game, the Thunder activated left winger Garet Hunt off the injured reserve list... the Thunder scratched Matt O'Dette (injured reserve), Ryan Constant (healthy), Craig Valette (injured reserve) and Bobby Davey (injured reserve)... Friday's meeting was the first of the season between both teams, the first of ten during the regular season... both Stockton and Utah ranked first and second, respectively on the power-play - but both teams combined for an 0-for-8 effort on the man-advantage.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow continue the homestand against the Utah Grizzlies, 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/.

-- ALL OUT, ALL SEASON --

THREE STARS:

1. UTA - 1 Mitch O'Keefe

2. UTA - 28 Brett Parnham

3. STK - 10 Chris D'Alvise

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