Victoria scores four unanswered goals, Huddy nets lone Thunder marker

December 28, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Victoria Salmon Kings scored four unanswered goals and goaltender Jonathan Boutin made 33 saves to send the Stockton Thunder (10-16-4, 24 points) to a 4-1 defeat before a crowd of 6,968 at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

Wes Goldie, Olivier Filion, Daryl Lloyd and Sean O'Connor all scored for Victoria while Ryan Huddy scored the only Thunder goal. Damian Surma was held scoreless in his season debut. Thunder goaltender Andrew Perugini made 27 saves, absorbing the loss.

Huddy scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season to lift the Thunder to a 1-0 advantage at 15:32 of the first period, chasing his own rebound off a backhanded bid and lifting a shot from a sharp angle over Victoria goaltender Jonathan Boutin's glove.

Goldie countered with his league-leading 25th goal of the year with 29 seconds left in the first period, faking goaltender Andrew Perugini to the ice from the right circle and lifting a wrist shot over the rookie goaltender. The Thunder outshot Victoria 11-8 in the first period as both teams engaged in a deliberate and conservative pace in the opening 20 minutes.

Olivier Filion gave the Salmon Kings a 2-1 lead with 9:28 left in the second period for a power-play goal, his eighth of the season, when he converted a rebound at the top of the crease just seconds after Perugini stopped Goldie's bid from the slot.

Boutin kept the Thunder at bay in the second period with 13 saves.

Despite the Thunder outshooting the Salmon Kings 5-0 to open the third period, the visitors cashed in on their first scoring chance of the final frame when Lloyd picked up his eighth goal of the season with 11:19 left. Lloyd was the benficiary of a loose puck while crashing the net, who backhanded the rolling puck past Perugini's diving attempt.

Sean O'Connor converted on a snapshot from the left circle with 2:41 left in the game for his eighth goal of the year to stretch Victoria's cushion to 4-1.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Ryan MacMurchy (injured reserve), Jordan Bendfeld (injured reserve), Mike Salekin (injured reserve) and Toby LaFrance (healthy) ... the Thunder dropped to 10-13-3 lifetime against the Salmon Kings and are now 3-3-0 in the season series ... the Thunder outshot the Salmon Kings 34-31 ... David Rohlfs moved from the forward position to defense and was paired with Cleve Kinley after the Thunder skated with just five healthy defensemen ... Huddy's goal gave him points in 10 of his last 11 games.

The Thunder returns home for its next game on Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. faceoff against the Victoria Salmon Kings at Stockton Arena. The game is available exclusively online (audio is free-of-charge) for viewing 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/.



ECHL Stories from December 28, 2008


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