Thunder get equalizer in OT

STOCKTON, Ca – The Stockton Thunder won in dramatic overtime despite a third period breakdown to tie the series at two games against the Ontario Reign. In a high energy game at the Stockton Arena before 4,913 fans, the Thunder came out on fire. The pace was fast and aggressive throughout most of the game. Stockton appeared to have their old energy back that they had lacked in game three just two nights ago. The intensity continued for 58 minutes then the collapse came in the final two minutes of regulation time, forcing overtime.

Two minutes into the first period, David Rohlfs dropped wrist shot past goalie Jeff Zatkoff with an assist by Judd Blackwater and Igor Gongalsky. Then at the 2:36 mark Blackwater was assessed a five minute elbowing major and game misconduct for a nasty hit near the boards that sent Ontario’s Shawn Germain to the locker for stitches on top of his head. Germain was back out to play the remainder of the game later in the first period. The five-minute advantage for Ontario provided the opportunity to score with only a few seconds left in the penalty. Tim Kraus took the puck up the center and out-shot Thunder goaltender Parker Van Buskirk, with an assist from Bud Holloway and Darren McMillan. At the end of first period, the score was tied 1-1. It could have been a lot worse for Stockton, but Van Buskirk was solid while holding the Reign at bay during their long power play in his first game with the team.
 
“Coach (Matt Thomas) told me this morning (about the start) before practice,” said Van Buskirk. “I was a little nervous, but had all day to get the jitters out. Playing with these guys is great. These are great players. I’m just glad I had this chance to play and helped them get the win. It’s a great feeling.” Both teams came out aggressive in the second period. However, Ontario took the lead with a second power play goal at 7:20 into the period by Kraus. For Kraus it was his third goal of the series and second of the game with assists credited to Holloway and Jon Rheault, putting Ontario up 2-1. Stockton’s Cory Urquhart tied the game with a wrist shot up the middle assisted by Craig Valette and Daryl Marcoux at 10:27. The goal was Urquhart’s fourth goal of the series. At 14:29 Ryan Huddy scored to give Stockton the go-ahead goal, ending the period at 3-2. “(Cleve) Kinley took the puck behind the net, and fed me a pass,” said Huddy. “I snuck in and beat their guy to the net and made the shot,”
At 6:13 into the third period, James Bates skated through the slot then on passes from Mike Lalonde and Huddy, shot past Zatkoff providing some breathing room with a 4-2 advantage. The insurance would be needed because in the last few minutes of the game, Ontario’s PJ Atherton received a tripping penalty. In response the home town fans went wild with many of them thinking the game was in the bag. But in a nasty turn of events for them and the Thunder thanks to sharp-skating and puck control, Rheault sent a wrist shot past Van Buskirk through the five-hole to close the gap, 4-3 with less than two minutes left in the period. The game was tied when a second shorthanded goal by Holloway, his 5th of the series, on a pass by Colton Teubert and Kraus, dropped just out of Van Buskirk’s reach, to tie the game at four with just 23 seconds left to force overtime. In playoff fashion, the teams went into sudden death overtime. The physical and high energy level of play was continued by both teams. Ontario had a single shot on goal before Bates scored the winning goal at 2:38 into overtime, with assists by Huddy and Lalonde, giving the win to the Thunder.
 
“We knew we had to keep doing what we were doing to keep the momentum going our way.” said Bates. “We knew that a lot of goals are scored in the first five minutes of overtime, so we came out with that thought and it worked.” “We had to play like we’ve played in the past when we beat them [Ontario] before,” said Huddy. “We got some good early bounces, and it just gave us more energy. The veteran guys told us to relax and keep playing the way we were and it worked.” There were vast differences in the play between tonight and game three. “We didn’t have a great effort the other night,” said Bates. “So we knew we had to come out and make as many shots against Zatkoff as we could, and it worked”. In his first appearance in a Thunder jersey, Van Buskirk handled the pressure, stopping 29 shots on goal.  Zatkoff had 33 saves. added,
 
“I thought Van Buskirk did really well,” said Thomas. “He stood tall and made some big saves early that we really needed.” Ontario scored on two of five power play opportunities, demonstrating the skills of their special teams. Stockton was unable to score in six chances.  
 
Game five will be played Sunday, April 19th at the Stockton Arena, before both teams head back to Ontario for the series completion next week. Contact the writer at: Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com Contact the Photographer at: Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com  
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