LAS VEGAS, Nev – The Stockton Thunder found a way to keep the momentum on their side and force a Game 7 against the Las Vegas Wranglers before a crowd of 3,136. A Wranglers win would have sent the Thunder home packing; but they weren’t able to capitalize on their opportunities. Stockton found the energy and stamina to hold on, never trailing in this game, to win Game 6 by a score of 3-1, in their first win this season in the Orleans Arena.
The first period was end-to-end action, as both teams played with physical fervor. The first goal was very late in the period on a feed off of Cleve Kinley to Craig Valette as he wrapped around the back of the net, and shot the puck towards the opposite pole before it went past Glenn Fisher. The goal was Valette’s sixth goal of the post season. Cory Urquhart was credited with an assist on the play. Going into the game Fisher was 5-1 with a .934 save percentage.
The Wranglers opened the second period with a vengeance. They evened the game on a power-play effort to turn the momentum back to their side Kelly Czuy scored with a rebound wrist shot past Parker Van Buskirk. The goal came at 2:24 into the period, with an assist to Mike Madill and Dan Spang. Van Buskirk came into Game 6 with a 5-4 record and a .908 save percentage. Kenny MacAuley helped to put the Th under back in the lead with a rebound goal at 19:34 into the period, with an assist by David Rohlfs.
Stockton held the lead throughout the third period, 2-1. With less than a minute remaining in regulation Fisher was pulled to allow an extra skater for the Wranglers. The Thunder forced a turn-over, and Urquhart scored an empty net goal, postponing the Wranglers dreams of shaking hands at the end of the night.
Stockton clearly wanted this game tonight, as they out shot the Wranglers at 37-23. The win was the first Game Six win in Thunder franchise history. Now both teams will be forced into their second series of seven games this post-season. The final game is set for Wednesday night in Orleans Arena, with the winner beginning the next series against the Alaska Aces this weekend.
Contact the writer at: shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com
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