Sports stats



Thunder victimized on Boyd's game winner with 2:49 left

December 26, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Peter Boyd scored with 2:49 left in regulation to snap a 2-2 tie and lift the Bakersfield Condors to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Stockton Thunder (12-12-3, 27 points) before 4,195 fans at Rabobank Arena on Monday.

The Thunder dropped their fourth straight loss and squandered a 2-1 lead that was built on back to back goals from Nathan Deck and Ian O'Connor. Matt Keetley picked up the win in net for Bakersfield with 28 stops.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel put Bakersfield ahead, 1-0 on a deflection past Thomas Heemskerk at the front of the net with 8:47 elapsed in the first period, after Joe Loprieno put the puck on net with a wrist shot from the right point.

Nathan Deck's third goal of the year knotted the game, 1-1 with 51.3 seconds left in the second period. He took a tape to tape feed by Kevin Baker at the left circle and rocketed a one-timer over Bakersfield goaltender Matt Keetley.

Ian O'Connor put the Thunder ahead, 2-1 with 1:59 gone by in the third period when he took a feed in front by Ryan Martindale and beat Keetley through the five hole.

Bakersfield responded at 11:21 of the period when Matt Marquardt buried a second chance rebound from the low slot for his 11th goal of the season and a 2-2 tie.

After Heemskerk made a highlight reel save on Marquardt's forehand deke, Boyd responded on the next shift with the game winning goal when he was uncontested in the slot and buried Robbie Dee's centering pass through Heemskerk's five hole.

Heemskerk took the loss with 32 saves.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Cameron Brodie (injured reserve), Brock Matheson (healthy), Garet Hunt (suspension) and Jordan Foreman (suspension) ... the Thunder went 0 of 6 on the power play ... the loss was the Thunder's third in the last four years on Boxing Day - all games were played in Bakersfield ... Stockton maintained a lead in the series, 3-2-0.

The Thunder finishes a brief two game road swing tomorrow in the Las Vegas Wranglers' annual "Midnight Game" at Orleans Arena, with the opening faceoff scheduled for 11:59 p.m. Exclusive online coverage is available for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2011-12 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/.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from December 26, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central