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Winning streak hits nine as Ellsworth stops 43 in net

March 31, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Cam Ellsworth made 43 saves as the Stockton Thunder (36-22-10, 82 points) rallied from a third period deficit to edge the Bakersfield Condors in a 4-3 shootout victory before 7,344 at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night.

The Thunder has now won a team-record nine consecutive games and stays two points behind the Idaho Steelheads for fourth place in the National Conference.

Both teams ran through the first period after a four-goal outburst for a 2-2 tie through 20 minutes. The Thunder began its rally just 2:11 into the game with Jim Dahl's eighth goal of the season for a 1-0 lead. After Bakersfield netminder Jamie Hodson stopped Tim Verbeek's wrist shot, Dahl corralled the rebound and buried the loose puck over Hodson's blocker.

Rookie Stephane Goulet netted his 16th goal of the season for a 2-0 Thunder advantage with 4:30 elapsed in the period for a power-play goal. Nathan Martz threaded a pass from the left wing that found Goulet in the slot with no defenders, who broke on Hodson and beat the Condors goaltender under the crossbar.

Bakersfield mounted its comeback at the 5:51 with Tyler Scott's 13th goal of the season while shorthanded, who beat Thunder Ellsworth on a wrap-around bid to the glove side. With 12:05 gone, Tyler Liebel leveled the game at 2-2, converting on a rebound from the mid-slot after Ellsworth denied Reagan Leslie's shot from the right circle.

Mike Hofstrand netted Bakersfield's second shorthanded goal of the contest with 11:59 gone in the second period for a 3-2 lead, who jumped on a loose puck at the neutral zone, streaked down the right wing and snapped a wrist shot past Ellsworth's blocker side. Hodson turned aside all eight shots by the Thunder in the second period.

Defenseman Brian Lee knotted the game at 3-3 on a power-play goal at the third period's 12:34 mark, blistering a one-timer from the top of the slot under the crossbar to Hodson's glove side. Ellsworth preserved the tie into the shootout stages with nine third period saves and three in overtime.

Martz buried the winner in the shootout's eighth round with a wrist shot past Hodson's blocker side, followed by Ellsworth's stop from defenseman David Kudelka.

The Thunder finishes the season series with a 5-1-2 clip against Bakersfield.

The Thunder returns to play tomorrow with a 4:00 p.m. home game against the Phoenix Roadrunners 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. Ticket packages for the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Diede Construction and 2007-08 Thunder season tickets 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 31, 2007


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