Voce's pair of goals snaps Stockton's 4-0-1 streak in regulation

Published on February 6, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Tony Voce scored a pair of goals and Jon Francisco scored an eventual game-winner in the second period to help the Ontario Reign send the Stockton Thunder (21-18-7, 49 points) to just their second defeat in regulation in the last 13 games, 5-3 before an announced crowd of 8,497 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday.

The Thunder, who had their 4-0-1 streak snapped despite goals each from Chris D'Alvise, J.F. Caudron and Anthony Aiello, were hampered by nine penalty kill situations, one away from the season high that was surrendered to Bakersfield on Dec. 4.

Michael Pelech, Sean O'Connor and Jon Francisco each scored a goal for Ontario and Curtis Darling made 28 saves for the win in net.

A five-goal outburst highlighted a high-scoring game in the first 20 minutes, with Ontario escaping with a 3-2 lead. Michael Pelech's rebound goal just two minutes into the game was answered by a J.F. Caudron wrister to help the Thunder tie the score at 1-1 with 16:21 left on his 11th goal of the season.

Sean O'Connor deflected Shawn Germain's wrist shot from the right point past Andrew Perugini while setting a screen to restore Ontario's lead, and when Tony Voce banged in a rebound at the right goal post as an Ontario power-play expired with 5:14 to play, the Reign had a 3-1 advantage with Andrew Martens collecting an assist on the play.

The Thunder drew to within one goal on D'Alvise's 21st goal of the season coming on the power-play with 1:11 left, snapping a shot past Curtis Darling's glove from the left circle. In the closing seconds, Matt Robinson's threat to tie the game was denied by Darling, who stacked the pads on a wrist shot from below the hash marks.

Jon Francisco's power-play goal at 9:34 of the second period put Ontario ahead, 4-2 when he played Sean O'Connor's missed wrist shot from off the end boards and parked the rebound into a half open cage. Aiello's fifth goal of the season drew the Thunder to within a goal again with 6:30 left, drilling a snap shot from the left circle.

Voce's second goal of the game and 15th of the season restored Ontario's two-goal cushion with 5:08 left, parking a rebound under the crossbar after Perugini stopped Andrew Martens' drive from the right point.

Behind a conservative style employed by Ontario that limited the Thunder to five shots on goal and five penalties the Thunder took to draw shorthanded situations, Ontario hung onto the victory for just their fifth win in the last 17 games.

Perugini took the loss with a 32 save effort.

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