STOCKTON, Ca – Game 3 of this series will go down in history as the game the Stockton Thunder came to win. Goalie Parker Van Buskirk, despite his youth and in experience with this team, made tremendous saves and was a key to their win over the Las Vegas Wranglers with a 5-1 score. With the win the Thunder now leads the series, 2-1.
Photo by Jack Lima
“Stockton played really well, and they were good at stopping the rebounds,” said Wranglers defender Jason Dest. “Their goalie made a lot of good saves.”
The first period amounted to a lot of back and forth action, and Las Vegas lead the period in shots on goal with 15-11. But Van Buskirk controlled the action at that end of the ice. Stockton’s Garet Hunt scored the first goal at 9:40 with a wrist shot past John DeCaro. Hunt’s second goal of the series was assisted by Ryan Huddy and Mark Adamek.
Stockton controlled the momentum going in the second period. Veteran Craig Valette scored the next goal in a hurried rebound during a power play, assisted by Damian Surma and Judd Blackwater, at 3:36. At 12:23, a pass from James Bates to Huddy was sent to the back of the net, giving the Thunder some breathing space and momentum. At the=2 0end of the period, Stockton led 3-0.
Photo by Jack Lima
“We got stuck on our heals after they got a few goals and we couldn’t recover,” said Dest. “It will be all about execution for us. There are a lot of chances got to get our momentum back; playoffs are huge on that. This team plays really well at home and it can be a challenge for us. But playoffs have a short term memory, and our focus will be on next game just like Stockton.”
In past games, Stockton seemed to have some trouble holding onto that lead and the third period would require some extra effort to keep the momentum alive. That would not be the case in this game because just thirty-one seconds into the period, Huddy was able to poke a loose puck past the line putting the Thunder up 4-0.
Bates and J.D. Watt were involved in an altercation, amounting to a five minute major for fighting for both participants at 2:13 into the period. By the time action began again, Watt had been accessed another five minute major and a ten minute game misconduct penalty too.
A Stockton crosschecking penalty by Valette would eliminate the advantage and give Las Vegas more ice. Dest made a long slap-shot from just inside the blue line on the side that went up and over Van Buskirk’s shoulder to the top of the net. Tyler Mosienko received the assist, finally putting Las Vegas on=2 0the Board and eliminating the shut out.
Photo by Jack Lima
But, Stockton wouldn’t let that little event get in the way of their determination, and Surma’s slap shot during a power play with less than three minutes left in the game would hinder any thought of a late comeback by the Wranglers. The Thunder ended the game with a final score of 5-1. Van Buskirk had a total of 38 saves during the match. “It’s nice to get a lead,” said Van Buskirk. “It was good that we could play our game and not have to panic in the last few minutes. We needed one like that.”
The 4,237 fans at the Stockton Arena added to the excitement of the entire game, on their feet for Van Buskirk after several feverish saves.
“We enjoy the win tonight, then tomorrow it’s in the past,” said Van Buskirk. “You have to build on the momentum and think about the next game. You can’t really settle in. We have to keep pushing and get what ever we can. We know they’re not going to stop coming at us.”
Photo by Jack Lima
Despite the loss Las Vegas netminder John DeCaro had 30 saves in the net for the game.
Stockton was two for five on the power play tonight, while Las Vegas only had one missed opportunity.
Game 4 will be in the Stockton Arena on Saturday, May 2nd, and then the teams will go to Las Vegas for Games 5 and 6 (if necessary).
Contact the writer at: shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at: jack.lima@prohockeynews.com
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