StocktonThunder

Thunder wins fourth game in a row, 4-1, in wire to wire effort over division rival

FINAL STATS: Box score
AUDIO: Game Highlights – Thunder Replay

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Goaltender Olivier Roy earned a career high 55 saves and Chris Doyle scored a pair of goals to lead a wire to wire effort by the Stockton Thunder (22-18-4, 48 points), dispatching the Bakersfield Condors in a 4-1 victory at Rabobank Arena on Wednesday.

Roy came one save shy of Jake Moreland’s all time Thunder single game save record, stopping all 38 shots he faced through two periods. The Thunder won their fourth game in a row – a season high – and jumped to one point back of Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Olivier Roy turned in a career high 55 save effort, stopping the first 38 shots he saw through two periods. (photo by Sean Blair)

Chris D’Alvise put the Thunder ahead, 1-0 with 9:46 left in the first period when he drove the net and pounded a rebound past goaltender Matt Keetley’s blocker, moments after D’Alvise was set up in front via a pass by Kevin Baker.

Roy kept Bakersfield off the board with 19 saves in the first period.

Doyle got a three goal eruption in the second period into full gear with his first of two goals at 7:42 of the period, burying a re-direction from between the circles for a 2-0 Thunder lead.

Baker then finished off a centering feed by D’Alvise at the right post, completing his 20th goal of the season just 38 seconds later for a 3-0 Thunder advantage.

Doyle’s 5-on-3 power play goal, following a double minor penalty to Hans Benson and a slashing penalty to Robbie Dee, put the Thunder up 4-0 with 1:18 left when he buried a snap shot from between the hash marks.

Jesse Gimblett completed the scoring with his 12th goal of the season on the power play, cutting the Thunder lead to 4-1 with 16:14 left in regulation.

Keetley took the loss with 24 saves.

NOTES: Scratched for the game were Jesse Fratkin (injured, day to day), Ryan Martindale (injured reserve), Tony DeHart (injured reserve),Gabriel Levesque (injured reserve), Jason Morgan (injured reserve), Nathan Deck (injured, day to day) and Thomas Heemskerk (injured reserve) … Baker now has seven points in the last five games … D’Alvise had a multi point game with a goal and assist and has collected four points in four games since his return from injury … Stockton improved to 6-2-0 this season against Bakersfield.

The Thunder return to play on the road on Friday, hosting the Idaho Steelheads at 7:30 p.m. The game will be carried on radio at 1280 KWSX and online coverage is available 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 2011-12 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. STK – 31 Olivier Roy
2. STK – 23 Chris Doyle
3. BAK – 55 Jesse Gimblett