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Stephane Goulet scored the game's first goal just over 38 minutes into the contest, his team-leading third game-winning goal of the year (photo credit: George Steckler) |
Both teams battled to a scoreless first period draw, with Utah goaltender Sean Fields stoning 11 Thunder shots, including three power play attempts. Ellsworth only had to make three stops on his own end to keep the game at a 0-0 tie.
Ellsworth and Fields continued to battle into the waning minutes of the second period, leading up to rookie right wing Stephane Goulet's power-play goal with 1:19 remaining for a 1-0 Thunder lead. Goulet took Slonina's deflected shot from the left goal line and jammed in a rebound on the right side of the crease past Fields' glove. Ellsworth's seven second period saves kept Utah scoreless through two periods. Late in the third period, the Thunder put the game away with Slonina's power-play goal with 3:22 left, burying a rebound after Fields stopped defenseman Tim O'Connell's bid from the left wing.
Utah pulled Fields for an extra attacker in the last two minutes of the game but fell short as Ellsworth held off the Grizzles' final flurry with six third period stops.
Assistant captain Brendon Hodge notched two assists to aid the Thunder scoring, while Fields made 45 saves in net for Utah.
With the win, the Thunder has equaled last season's eight-win mark at home, while extending its team-record unbeaten streak to 10 consecutive games and its unbeaten home record to 8-0-2.
Stockton has won all three meetings this year against Utah and is 4-4-0 all-time against the Grizzlies.
The Thunder returns to play on Friday, December 8 with an ECHL battle for league and Pacific Division supremacy at stake, as Stockton (second-best record in the ECHL) faces the Las Vegas Wranglers (best record in the ECHL) at 7:30 p.m. 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" rate at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (courtesy of B2 Networks).
Thunder season tickets, mini-plans 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 www.stocktonthunder.com.
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Three Stars:
1. STK - Stephen Slonina
2. STK - Cam Ellsworth
3. STK - Stephane Goulet
Click here to view the game's box score.
