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Thunder clinches playoff berth with help of Utah win

March 15, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Jerry Kuhn made 33 saves to backstop a three goal rally by the Idaho Steelheads, who sent the Stockton Thunder (30-28-5, 65 points) to a 3-2 defeat at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

The Thunder, who outshot Idaho 35-21, learned after the game that they clinched a Kelly Cup Playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season after Bakersfield lost to Utah, 3-2 at Rabobank Arena. The Thunder originally built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Chris D'Alvise and Gabriel Levesque.

Derek LeBlanc netted the game winner in the second period on a power play and Kuhn stopped all 14 shots he saw in the third period.

"I thought we outplayed (Idaho) the majority of the game, but there's little consolation to outplaying a team and coming away empty handed," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "It's three losses in a row to teams that are chasing us. We did not compete in areas of the ice the way we needed to."

"We would have liked to clinch a playoff berth tonight on our own terms, but we'll be focused for the weekend to continue pursuing a strong finish."

The Thunder raced out to a 2-0 lead beginning with D'Alvise's seventh goal of the season at 1:37 of the opening period, deflecting a shot from in front to the Idaho net.

Matt Reber then hit Levesque with a tape to tape feed and the rookie forward's one timer put the Thunder up 2-0 on a one timer from between the circles with 12:46 left in the first period.

Just 1:01 later, Idaho got back in the game with Ron Meyers' first of two goals, converting a on a one timer at the goal mouth.

Meyers then slammed a redirection through Thomas Heemskerk's five hole just 26 seconds into the second period on a feed from behind the net by Chad Nehring, tying the score at 2-2.

After Jason Morgan was whistled for tripping, Derek LeBlanc buried a rebound from between the circles for a power play goal, putting Idaho 3-2 with 13:01 remaining in the second period.

The Thunder threatened to draw even on a scramble play at the goal mouth just minutes later, but Kevin Baker's rebound bid was stopped by Patrick Kennedy, who crowded the crease to block the shot.

Kuhn continued to face pressure in the third period and made a key save on Max Campbell with 3:11 left in the game, just seconds after Ryan Lowery barely missed on a backdoor pass to Baker at the right post.

The Thunder pulled Heemskerk for an extra attacker and nearly tied the game with under 20 seconds left when Mike Little deflected Gabriel Levesque's shot past Kuhn's glove but hit the post.

Heemskerk took the loss with 18 saves.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Tony DeHart (injured reserve), Sebastian Owuya (injured reserve), Jody Pederson (healthy) and Cameron Abney (injured reserve) ... Stockton fell to 4-4-1 in the head to head series and will face the Steelheads three more times in Boise from Mar. 28-31 ... Levesque's goal was his eighth point in the last seven games.

The Thunder returns to play on Friday with a 7:30 p.m. home game against the Las Vegas at Stockton Arena. The game will be carried on radio (subject to change) at 1280 AM KWSX and online for viewing (pay-per-view video charge) and listening (free of charge) at www.StocktonThunder.com, courtesy of AmericaOne.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth consecutive season in 2010-11. Season Tickets for 2012-13 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ .

THREE STARS

1. IDH - 9 Ron Meyers

2. IDH - 7 Derek LeBlanc

3. STK - 10 Chris D'Alvise

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