Thunder win fifth straight

Published on February 8, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - With another shorthanded roster, this time with 14 skaters, the Stockton Thunder (23-20-5, 51 points) parlayed a wire-to-wire lead for their fifth straight victory in a 3-2 triumph over the Alaska Aces before 5,646 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

On a day where he was honored with a t-shirt giveaway, Mike Lalonde notched a goal and an assist, including a helper on Cory Urquhart's shorthanded goal in the second period which was the eventual game-winner. Ryan Huddy also scored for the Thunder, who were aided by goaltender Andrew Perugini's eighth straight victory in net and 19 saves. Lance Galbraith and Erik Fabian scored for Alaska.

In an ironic turnaround which had the Aces dominating the head-to-head series by winning 11 of the first 12 games, the Thunder finished unbeaten in regulation this year against Alaska at a 6-0-1 mark and are now 13-13-5 in the lifetime series.

Huddy opened the scoring just 3:47 into the game with a power-play goal, taking a James Bates pass deep in the slot and sneaking a backhander past the blocker side of Alaska netminder J.P. Lamoureux.

Lalonde's 15th goal of the season hiked the Thunder lead to 2-0 with 3:20 left in the period for the team's second power-play goal of the game when he stuffed a forehanded bid past Lamoureux from the doorstep. Ryan MacMurchy set the play up by a diving poke check which kept the puck into the zone against the scrambling Alaska penalty kill. Craig Valette took MacMuchy's pass and found Lalonde at the front of the net.

Alaska cut the deficit to 2-1 on Galbraith's eighth goal of the year, coming on the power-play with 1:10 left in the period. Galbraith walked into the slot from the right circle and beat Perugini with a snap shot through traffic.

Urquhart's eventual game-winner came with 3:34 left in the second period for the team's eighth shorthanded goal this season. With Alaska caught deep in the attacking zone, Lalonde sent a lead pass to Urquhart, who raced behind the Aces defense on a breakaway and beat Lamoureux to the blocker side for his 20th goal of the year.

The Aces stayed in the game by killing off a five-minute major power-play and seized momentum with Fabian's power-play goal, his eighth of the season, to cut the Thunder lead to 3-2 with 7:42 gone in the final period. Fabian took a deflected pass from Scott Burt behind the net and stuffed in a wrap-around attempt to Perugini's glove side.

Despite being outshot 6-1 in the final period, the Thunder burned the clock on a five-on-three power-play in the final two minutes of regulation.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), Cleve Kinley (injured reserve) and Ryan Constant (injured reserve) ... San Jose State University product Ian Fazzi made his ECHL debut in his first shift taken in the first period ... defenseman Mark Adamek made his return to the lineup after sitting the previous two games due to injury ... the Thunder went 2-for-5 on the power-play.

The Thunder returns to play on Monday, hosting the Idaho Steelheads at 7:00 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN and online (audio is free-of-charge) for viewing for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from February 8, 2009


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