Thunder sink first seed Wranglers in four-goal comeback, lead series 1-0

April 12, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Rookie Jonas Almtorp's shorthanded goal with 4:19 left in regulation snapped a 2-2 tie, highlighting a four-goal rally in the third period to help lift the eighth-seed Stockton Thunder to a stunning 4-2 comeback victory over the first-seed Las Vegas Wranglers in game 1 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before a crowd of 3,442 at Orleans Arena on Friday night.

The Thunder takes a 1-0 lead over Las Vegas in the best-of-seven series and gains home-ice advantage with the middle three games (game 5 if necessary) at Stockton Arena.

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

Game 1: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 2

Game 2: at Las Vegas - Saturday, April 12 - 7:05 p.m. (Orleans Arena)

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

Thunder goaltender and ex-Wrangler Tim Boron made 39 saves for his seventh lifetime playoff victory while Almtorp (1g-1a) and Brandon Schwartz (two assists) led the Thunder offense with two points each.

Jason Josza's power-play goal with 7:23 elapsed into the game put the Wranglers up 1-0, when he corralled a Brandon Kaleniecki feed at the left point and fired a slapshot that deflected off the glove of Boron and into the net. Boron kept the Thunder in the game with 14 saves, dueling with Las Vegas goaltender Kevin Lalande, who was making his pro playoff debut and kept the Thunder off the scoreboard with a 13 save effort through two periods.

Veteran Tim O'Connell got the comeback started with his first goal of the playoffs at the 3:50 mark of the third period to level the score at 1-1, when Ryan O'Marra chipped a loose puck from behind the net and found O'Connell at the high slot. O'Connell proceeded to beat Lalande with a 50-foot slapshot that eluded Lalande through traffic.

Just 44 seconds later, Lance Monych's first career playoff goal hiked the Thunder to a 2-1 advantage when Almtorp set-up Monych at the right circle, who fired another slapshot past Lalande. Brandon Kaleniecki answered by scoring below the hash marks on a deflected pass from teammate Adam Cracknell to knot the game at 2-2, re-directing Cracknell's feed from the left boards through Boron's five hole with 10:17 left in regulation.

Las Vegas had a bid to re-capture the lead late in the game with their fourth power play, but Almtorp put the Thunder ahead with the eventual game-winner on a 2-on-1 rush for a 3-2 lead with 4:19 left. Captain Brad Farynuk fed Schwartz up ice, who slipped a pass from the left wing to Almtorp, who one-timed the feed past Lalande's glove from the deep slot.

Stephane Goulet's empty-net goal with 1:10 left sealed the game on a feed by O'Marra from the right wing boards.

Lalande made 18 saves in the losing cause for Las Vegas.

NOTES: Scratches for the Thunder were Fredrik Johansson (healthy), Luke Lynes (healthy), David Rohlfs (injured reserve) and Phil Cole (injured reserve) ... it is the second straight playoff-opening victory for the Thunder, who mounted a third-period comeback last year to defeat the Idaho Steelheads 4-2 from Qwest Arena ... the last Thunder victory in Orleans Arena was March 28, 2006.

Game 2 of the National Conference Quarterfinals, between the Thunder and Wranglers is tomorrow beginning at 7:05 p.m. from Orleans Arena. 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 12, 2008


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