STOCKTON, Calif. - Cincinnati forward Barret Ehgoetz scored two goals and goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris made 35 saves to lead the Cyclones to a 4-2 decision over the Stockton Thunder (24-20-10, 58 pts) before a sellout crowd of 9,737 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

Ehgoetz opened the scoring 47 seconds into the first period, capping a break-away opportunity with a back-hand deke marker on Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk to give Cincinnati the early 1-0 lead. Ehgoetz's unassisted tally was his 11^th goal on the season.

Both teams combined for 44 penalty minutes in a chippy third period. (photo credit: George Steckler)

Thunder right-winger Mathieu Melanson proceeded to lift Stockton to a 2-1 lead at the 14:21 mark converting a feed from newly acquired Thunder left-winger Brock Rodunske from behind the Cyclones goal. The goal was Melanson's seventh in six games with the Thunder.

The Thunder sought to extend their lead early in the second period as right-winger Stephen Slonina fed a streaking Jim Dahl in front of Grumet-Morris only to his 15-foot shot attempt denied by the Cyclones goaltender.

Thunder defenseman Jeff Lang came within inches of giving Stockton a two goal advantage on a mid-period man advantage, only to have his point shot hit the right post behind Grumet-Morris. Cyclones left-winger Travis Lisabeth would tie the score at 2-2 at the 18:27 mark, jamming a Mike Wirll feed past Dubnyk's left pad for his 17^th goal on the season.

Cyclones forward Scott Reynolds scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 5:17 mark of the third period, the beneficiary of a Matt Rogers pass attempt that caromed off the side of the Thunder goal directly onto Reynolds stick-blade in front of Dubnyk. Reynolds proceeded to beat Dubnyk top-shelf on the glove-side to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.

Grumet-Morris preserved the Cyclones lead with a sprawling save on Thunder center Nathan Martz with six minutes remaining in regulation time on a Stockton mad advantage. Ehgoetz would cap the scoring for Cincinnati with a short-handed empty net goal at 19:59 to make the score 4-2.   

Dubnyk made 30 saves for Stockton in the loss.

The Thunder continues its eight-game homestand on Sunday, March 4, with a 4:00 p.m. game against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Recently named host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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/.

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Three Stars:
1. CIN - Barret Ehgoetz
2. STK - Mathieu Melanson
3. CIN - Matt Rogers


Click here to view the game's box score.

STOCKTON, Calif. - Cincinnati forward Barret Ehgoetz scored two goals and goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris made 35 saves to lead the Cyclones to a 4-2 decision over the Stockton Thunder (24-20-10, 58 pts) before a sellout crowd of 9,737 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night.

Ehgoetz opened the scoring 47 seconds into the first period, capping a break-away opportunity with a back-hand deke marker on Thunder goaltender Devan Dubnyk to give Cincinnati the early 1-0 lead. Ehgoetz's unassisted tally was his 11^th goal on the season.

Both teams combined for 44 penalty minutes in a chippy third period. (photo credit: George Steckler)

Thunder right-winger Mathieu Melanson proceeded to lift Stockton to a 2-1 lead at the 14:21 mark converting a feed from newly acquired Thunder left-winger Brock Rodunske from behind the Cyclones goal. The goal was Melanson's seventh in six games with the Thunder.

The Thunder sought to extend their lead early in the second period as right-winger Stephen Slonina fed a streaking Jim Dahl in front of Grumet-Morris only to his 15-foot shot attempt denied by the Cyclones goaltender.

Thunder defenseman Jeff Lang came within inches of giving Stockton a two goal advantage on a mid-period man advantage, only to have his point shot hit the right post behind Grumet-Morris. Cyclones left-winger Travis Lisabeth would tie the score at 2-2 at the 18:27 mark, jamming a Mike Wirll feed past Dubnyk's left pad for his 17^th goal on the season.

Cyclones forward Scott Reynolds scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 5:17 mark of the third period, the beneficiary of a Matt Rogers pass attempt that caromed off the side of the Thunder goal directly onto Reynolds stick-blade in front of Dubnyk. Reynolds proceeded to beat Dubnyk top-shelf on the glove-side to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.

Grumet-Morris preserved the Cyclones lead with a sprawling save on Thunder center Nathan Martz with six minutes remaining in regulation time on a Stockton mad advantage. Ehgoetz would cap the scoring for Cincinnati with a short-handed empty net goal at 19:59 to make the score 4-2.   

Dubnyk made 30 saves for Stockton in the loss.

The Thunder continues its eight-game homestand on Sunday, March 4, with a 4:00 p.m. game against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).

Recently named host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season 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. CIN - Barret Ehgoetz
2. STK - Mathieu Melanson
3. CIN - Matt Rogers


Click here to view the game's box score.