Thunder winning streak hits seven as Dubnyk turns aside 33 in victory

March 28, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Forward Brock Radunske scored two goals in a four-unanswered goal rally while all-star goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped 33 shots to lead the Stockton Thunder (34-22-10, 78 pts) to a 5-2 victory over the Fresno Falcons before 4,372 fans at Stockton Arena on Tuesday night.

The Thunder has won a team-record seven games in a row and takes sole possession of fifth place in the National Conference, standing one point behind the Idaho Steelheads for fourth place and home-ice advantage for the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Thunder center Nathan Martz opened the scoring at the 9:20 mark of the first period, re-directing a tape-to-tape cross-ice feed from left-winger Liam Reddox from atop the right circle by Falcons goaltender Scott Stirling to lift Stockton to a 1-0 lead. Martz's tally was his 8th on the season.

Fresno rallied in the waning minutes of the opening frame as a P.O. Beaulieu point-shot caromed off defenseman Brian Lee's stick, beating Dubnyk stick-side to level the score at 1-1 at 16:51. Beaulieu's goal was his 5th of the season. Falcons defenseman Cory Murphy proceeded to give Fresno a 2-1 lead at 18:57, capping a rush down the left-side into Thunder territory with his 12th goal of the season, a 20-foot wrist shot from the left face-off circle that beat Dubnyk short-side.

The Thunder offense struck early in the second period, as Stockton managed to re-gain the lead. Radunske tied the score 2-2, re-directing a Tim O'Connell point-shot past Stirling's right pad at 1:48 for his 12th goal of the year. Thunder defenseman Brian Lee restored the Stockton advantage at the 4:09 mark as his point-shot deflected off the stick of left-winger Luke Curtin and proceeded to flutter over a stunned Stirling to make the score 3-2 for the eventual game-winner. Lee's goal was his 2nd of the season, and first as a member of the Thunder.

Dubnyk preserved the Thunder lead on the ensuing Fresno man-advantage with a series of sprawling stops on repeated shot attempts by right-winger John Wroblewski from just outside the Thunder goal crease. Dubnyk held the fort again minutes later with a break-away stop on left-winger Brian McConnell.

Radunske lifted the Thunder to a 4-2 lead at the 6:40 mark of the third period as he corralled a loose puck behind the Falcons goal, eluded a check from Falcons defenseman Riley Day while maintaining possession of the puck, and proceeded to jam a wrap-around attempt under Stirling's left pad for his second goal on the night, and 13th marker on the season.

The Thunder outshot the Falcons 36-35 in the contest and won its first game against Fresno since April 2, 2006, breaking a six-game losing skid in the all-time series.

The Thunder concludes its two-game homestand with a game against the Phoenix Roadrunners on Friday, March 30, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Recently named host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets 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 March 28, 2007


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