Keith Seabrook (7) checks Gasper Kopitar – Photo by Jack Lima
STOCKTON, Calif. – Following the Christmas break, the Stockton Thunder continue their span of games where they have a difficult time holding onto leads. In their last two games against the Ontario Reign, they scored early, only to come out on the losing side at the final bell.
Tuesday night, Peter Sivak returned to the Thunder ice following a call up to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He appeared in three matches while there. Sivak had been on a eight game point streak with the Thunder when he was recalled. He continued his streak when he scored the opening goal at 3:33. But that would be the only goal allowed by Jussi Olkinuora in the net for the rest of the game.
WE PAINT the Ice promotion – Photo by Jack Lima
A two goal second period by former Thunder center Judd Blackwater would shut the Thunder down. Blackwater’s first goal was a power play at 5:53, assisted by Norm Ezekiel and Tyler Scofield, beating Kent Simpson in the Thunder net. A second goal by Blackwater was assisted by Kyle Bigos and Gasper Kopitar.
– Photo by Jack Lima
The Reign controlled the puck most of the second period, allowing the Thunder only seven shots on goal, while doubling that number at the Thunder net. The third period continued, but the Thunder were able to slow the Reign down some, holding them to only six shots on goal. Simpson was pulled with just over a minute remaining in regulation, but a loose puck in the neutral zone allowed the Reign to cap the game with an empty net goal, credited to Derek Couture for the final 3-1 win over the Thunder.
Painted Ice – Photo by Jack Lima
Following the game, nearly 1,000 fans, kids and adults, were handed paint and brushes and sent onto the ice surface. This one of a kind event allowed fans to use their imaginations to draw multi-color images and messages on the ice.
This was the second annual WE PAINT the ice event for Stockton, which held the original event last year. Since then, several other teams in ECHL and even the NHL have held similar events. But Stockton can boost they held the first of it’s kind.
Shane Owen (50) makes a save in traffic – Photo by Jack Lima
The surface was nearly covered in paint, primarily with personal messages and encouraging words for their Thunder team. Shout outs to affiliate teams former and present could also be seen Sharks and Islanders respectively.
Brad Stebner (2) and Dylan Hood (20) jump for a loose puck – Photo by Jack Lima
On Wednesday night, following only a single opportunity to practice on the painted surface, both teams returned to the ice.
As the night before, Stockton opened the scoring when John Ryder netted his first goal of the season at 5:58, with a long shot that went over the glove of Joe Cannata in the net. Exactly a minute later, Sivak extended his streak to ten games, when his shot after a faceoff deflected off the bar into the net.
A powerfull hip check by Ryder along the boards, ended with a fight against Mike DiPaulo.
A power play for Ontario led to Couture’s 13 goal of the season beat Shane Owen in the Thunder net. The Thunder tried to keep their lead in the second period when Ryan Hayes scored at 7:35, but Geoff Walker answered a few minutes later to keep the Reign within one.
Jussi Olkinuora makes a save as Garet Hunt (24) crashes the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Thunder Captain Garet Hunt and Maxim Kitsyn dropped their gloves about five minutes into the period, getting the fans on their feet. But the air was sucked out the building, when Blackwater scored his 12 goal of the season at 7:03 for the equalizer.
Ontario’s Rocco Carzo scored the ultimate game winner at 9:55.
Shane Owen (50) makes a pad save as Garet Hunt (24) provides support – Photo by Jack Lima
The Thunder continued to battle hard, but could not solve Cannata in the net, despite several scoring chances late in the period. A battle for the puck in front of the Ontario net in which Nolan Julseth-White knocked the net off the moorings led to a Thunder penalty shot. Peter Sivak had the chance to tie the game, but his straight on attempt was caught by Cannata.
Cannata made 25 saves for the win, while Owen had 33 saves for the loss.
Judd Blackwater (9) moves the puck up ice as Brad Stebner defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Thunder Coach Kromm was obviously disappointed in the final 4-3 score.
“It’s frustrating. We played such a different game when we were down a goal, versus when we were up a goal or two. Their goalie was good, but it shouldn’t have gotten to that point.”
“They were coming hard at us late in the second and early in the third. We just didn’t respond with smart play. Simple things that need to be done when you hold a lead just weren’t getting done,” Kromm added.
Following the game, players commented about their early difficulties in following the puck on the colorful ice, but they adapted as time wore on.
Joe Cannata stops Peter Sivak’s Penalty Shot – Photo by Jack Lima
Kromm said, “Both teams had to play on the ice. It’s obviously an exciting thing for the fans and now it’s a trademark for Stockton. It’s something that is a lot of fun for the fans.”
“At first it was [difficult to follow the puck]. It was obviously something you’re not used to,” Said Owen. “It’s kind of a once in a lifetime thing. But as we went on it got easier.”
“It was kind of frustrating in warmups,” said Ryder. “But once you got your eyes adjusted it was okay.”
The Thunder start the new year with the next six games on the road and hope to overcome their current inability to hold a lead.
Judd Blackwater (9) moves the puck up ice as Brad Stebner defends – Photo by Jack Lima
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