Idaho gets Thunder Struck at Home

BOISE , Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads welcomed the Stockton Thunder for a three game series that began last Wednesday, November 10, with subsequent games on Friday and Saturday nights at the Qwest Arena.   The two teams last met in the National Conference Finals last season.   Idaho was the victor in that series, sending the Thunder home empty handed.  
 
But by the end of the three game series, Stockton took away five of six possible points, and secured the first place position in the Pacific Division with a record of 7-1-3 (17 points).   Idaho earned two points and was bumped to the third place position in the Mountain Division with a record of 5-4-4 (14 points) for the season.  
 
The three game series was evenly battled and for the most part, proved to be a battle of the goalies. Thunder net minder Bryan Pitton finished the weekend with 1.91 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage, placing him in second place among goalies in the league.   Idaho’s Tyler Beskorowany played the first match and currently has 2.27 goals against average, and .932 save percentage (ranked sixth in league).  
 
Thunder center Chris D’Alvise posted his tenth goal of the season, including a hat trick and leads the team with 17 points, while Idaho’s Kael Mouillierat posted his seventh goal for the season.
 
In Wednesday’s game, both teams clashed in a goalie dual, with each net minder turning away nearly everything that was thrown at them.   It was the Steelheads’ Mouillierat that finally found a way to get the puck past B. Pitton in the third period at the 12:10 mark.
 
Idaho would only hold the lead over Stockton for about four minutes, as a pass from Anthony Aiello to a waiting Jesse Gimblett was redirected towards the net. The puck ricocheted off of the skate of Steelhead’s goalie Beskorowany and passed the threshold.
 
The teams were tied at one at the end of regulation, forcing sudden-death overtime.   The overtime period was quick, but no team was able to solve the tremendous net minding at either end of the ice.
 
The penalties were few during regulation; the Thunder was zero for two while the Steelheads were zero for three on the power play.   Stockton out-shot Idaho the first two periods, 25 – 15, while Idaho turned up the energy for the third period adding up 17-15 shots.
 
The game decision finally game in the shoot-out, with three consecutive goals from the first three shooters, while Idaho’s shooters could not seem to solve B. Pitton in the net.   Stockton’s Aaron Clarke, Jason Pitton, and D’Alvise beat Beskorowany.   Shooters for Idaho were Mike Gabinet, Mouillierat and Marty Flichel.  
 
Stockton ’s B. Pitton, who was also named the ECHL Goaltender of the week, posted his third win in a row, stopping 32 shots on goal.  
 
The Idaho loss came before 3,521 fans.   Idaho’s rookie goal tender Beskorowany had 44 saves in the net, to take the loss for the game.
 
On Friday, the teams continued their aggressive and relentless match-up.   In the nets, B. Pitton and Mike Zacharias made incredible saves, keeping the scoring opportunities to a minimum.   In similar fashion to the previous game, the game went to a shoot out, but the results were different.
 
As the puck dropped to open the game, D’Alvise scored the first Thunder goal at the nine second mark.   But Idaho’s defense held Stockton to only four shots on goal to their nine.
 
Idaho ’s Sean Backman scored his first goal in a Steelhead sweater with 1:44 remaining in the period, to even the score at one each.
 
Early in the second period, a scrum at the net and a loose puck resulted in a goal by Mouillierat at 1:46.   But Stockton quickly answered within 30 seconds, with a goal by Chris Lawrence, with an assist to Cameron Brodie and Clarke.   Stockton turned up their shots on the net, to double Idaho during the period 20-9, but the teams remained tied 2-2.
 
At 9:36 of the third period Jim McKenzie found the net and scored to give Stockton the go-ahead goal to make the score 3-2.   But as has been the theme of these two teams, Justin Taylor scored at the 12:41 mark to knot the game up at 3-3.   His goal was assisted by Mouillierat.
 
The overtime period was quick back and forth action, but no goals, forcing a shootout.   In the shootout, Stockton’s first three shooters Clarke, Fraser Clair and J. Pitton were denied by Zacharias.   Idaho’s Michael Neal and Flichel’s shots were stopped by B. Pitton, but Backman found the net and the 3,998 fans in attendance thought that would seal Stockton’s doom.  
 
The next attempt by Cameron was turned away, as was Cody Lampl’s.   A goal by McKenzie evened the score again.   Mark Derlago’s goal was turned away by B. Pitton forcing the shootout to continue.   D’Alvise went upstairs on Zacharias but the goal was answered by John Swanson.   The seventh round, Lawrence was denied, but Steve Oleksy would get the winning goal with a high shot over the shoulder of B. Pitton to give the win to Idaho, with a final score of 4-3.
 
On Saturday, the Stockton Thunder managed to return from a two goal deficit, to post a 5-4 win in regulation, with the help of a hat trick by D’Alvise.  
 
The game was packed full of physical emotions run amuck.   In the first period, the Thunder’s Lawrence posted the first goal at 6:32 into the period, only to be answered by Backman at the 14:15 mark.  
 
Late in the period, Garet Hunt and Oleksy dropped the gloves.   In the end, Hunt would serve a fighting major with an added match penalty for attempt to cause deliberate injury.   Stockton held firm and managed to get out of the five minute penalty kill unscathed, as the first break arrived none too soon.
 
Early in the second period, Idaho would claim the lead again, with a goal by Mouillierat, his eighth of the season.   An altercation involving J. Pitton and Guillaume Monast occurred just after the eight minute mark, giving Idaho a full seven minute power play opportunity.   J. Pitton drew an instigating, fighting and game misconduct for his involvement.   ***image3***
 
Idaho ’s captain Flichel capitalized quickly scoring a goal at 8:54, giving Idaho the 3-1 lead.
 
Goals late in the period by D’Alvise and Bretton Cameron of Stockton would even the score at three apiece as the teams left the ice for the second intermission.
 
As the teams returned for the third period, Idaho had another power play opportunity, but B. Pitton held fast to the net, trapping everything that came his way.
 
A power play for Stockton allowed a pass from Dan Ringwald to D’Alvise at 11:12, that found the back of the net past Zacharias, to give the Thunder the lead again.   Then, at 15:25, an unassisted goal by D’Alvise, his tenth of the season, would stretch Stockton’s lead to 5-3.   The hat trick goal was the fourth career hat trick and the second for the season by D’Alvise.
 
With only 3:27 remaining in the period, Steelhead’s left wing Neal found an opening to put Idaho within striking distance with an assist by Flichel.   But, B. Pitton denied any other chances, and when the clock ran out, the Thunder was victorious with a final score of 5-4 at Qwest Arena before 4,858 fans.
 
Stockton was one for three on the power play while Idaho was one for six.   B. Pitton had 17 saves for the win, while Zacharias posted 31 saves.
 
Both teams will travel to Stockton later this week for two more head-to-head games on Thursday and Saturday at the Stockton Arena.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Contact the Photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com