Urquhart scores twice, Thunder stifled with Murray's 42 saves

Published on November 27, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Cory Urquhart notched his team leading sixth and seventh goals of the season and while rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini suffered his first loss as a pro as the Stockton Thunder (6-8-3, 15 points) started their three game homestand with a 4-2 loss to the Ontario Reign in front a crowd of 4,017 on a pre-Thanksgiving night at the Stockton Arena on Wednesday.

Ontario received two power-play goals from Dusty Collins and P.J. Atherton. Tim Kraus' shorthanded goal was the eventual game-winner while goaltender John Murray made 42 saves for the win.

Adam Huxley got the crowd going early when he dropped the gloves at 5:52 in the first period and picked up an early five minute major as a result of the scrap as did his opponent, Ryan MacGregor.

Despite being outshot 7-0 in the early stages, Ontario opened up the scoring two minutes later at 7:57 when Jon Rheault let go of a wrister that ricocheted hard off the left post and directly onto the tape of Dan Knapp who buried the rebound past the out-of-position Perugini.

Stockton had an opportunity to tie the game early in the second when Toby LaFrance squared up a shot five feet in front of John Murray which skipped high into the air and was stabbed at several times by Ryan MacMurchy on the way back to the ice where Murray successfully smothered it ending the rush.

Urquhart lit the lamp for the Thunder at 11:26 in the second period when he corralled a puck on the left point and threw a shot on goal that traveled through a screen and past an unaware Murray.

Ontario answered back 1:40 into a power play when Dusty Collins swung away at a rebound in the slot that emerged from a pile of sticks and drove it over the glove hand of Perugini.

Tim Kraus extended the Reign's lead to 3-1 at 4:16 of the third period on a shorthanded rush led by Jon Rheault, who lazered a pass through the crease for Kraus to lay a well-placed one time shot past Perugini's glove.

While on a five-on-three power play, P.J. Atherton flipped a shot through traffic and over the blocker of Perugini putting Ontario safely ahead 4-1 at 6:41 of the final period.

Urquhart scored his second goal of the night at 9:45 in the third on the strength of a breakaway from the right side of the net and a quick wristshot over the glove of Murray to cut the Stockton deficit to 4-2.

Murray then withstood several late barrages by Stockton ending the night with 40 saves and the win, snapping Perugini's six-game unbeaten streak in the process.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), David Rohlfs (injured reserve) and Mike Salekin (travel) ... Urquhart's goal snapped a three-game goal-scoring drought and it was his second multi-goal game of the year ... the Thunder's 44 shots on goal were a season high.

The Thunder return to play on Friday, Nov. 28 against the Alaska Aces from Stockton Arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. The game is available on radio at 1420 KSTN and for viewing and listening on the internet for a $7 charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages 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/.

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