Thunder wins 4-3 OT thriller, catches two teams in standings with hot March

March 26, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Joel Irwin netted the game winning goal with 26.1 seconds remaining in overtime as the Stockton Thunder (15-38-12, 42 points) beat the Phoenix RoadRunners (19-44-4, 42 points) by a score of 4-3, in front of 5,450 at Stockton Arena on Sunday night.

Irwin took a rebound off an Aaron MacInnis miss and stuffed the winner through Phoenix netminder Ryan Cyr's legs, which knotted the Thunder in the ECHL standings with 42 points, drawing even with the RoadRunners and idle Dayton Bombers.

Capitalizing off a flat set of Thunder early in the first period, Jake Riddle helped Phoenix draw first blood with a power play goal 6:58 into the game. Ned Havern aided the Thunder in retaliating at the 10:01 mark on the power play, batting in a rebound from mid-air past Cyr after Aaron MacInnis was denied from a blast in the high slot.

Stockton gained its first lead in the game when Havern cashed his second goal, converting a loose puck from 10 feet out in the slot at the second period's 2:52 mark. After averting a five-on-three penalty kill, Phoenix gained momentum by tying the game with 1:46 left, when Kevin Ulanski slid a low shot past Thunder goaltender Jake Moreland's five hole.

Phoenix took the lead back 5:55 into the third period when Ulanski scored his second goal of the game on the RoadRunners' own 5-on-3 power play. The Thunder tied the game at 16:49 when Havern intercepted a loose puck in the neutral zone and knocked it ahead to Jeff Lang, who put a slapshot past Phoenix goaltender Ryan Cyr.

Stockton fired eight shots in the extra period to help set a team record for most shots in a game for the second time this weekend, totaling 54 in the game, which led to Irwin's heroics.

Irwin, who picked up two points with one and one assist, has now tallied 19 points in 12 games this month, with 5 goals and 14 assists in that span. Moreland was also strong in goal for the Thunder with 40 saves, the 12th time this season the Thunder netminder has stopped 40 or more shots.

The Thunder hits the road with a 7:05 p.m. PT game against the Las Vegas Wranglers on Tuesday at Orleans Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) at is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" rate at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B-2 Networks.

Thunder season tickets, individual tickets, and mini packages are on-sale now. Individual tickets can be purchased in person at Stockton Arena's Ticket Office, online at www.stocktontickets.com, or by phone at (209) 373-1700. 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 26, 2006


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