stocktonthunder.com

MATHIEU STRIKES AGAIN
Melanson scores two goals, including game winner, as Ellsworth stops 33 shots


STOCKTON, Calif. - Rookie Mathieu Melanson scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime while goaltender Cam Ellsworth made 33 saves as the Stockton Thunder (25-21-10, 60 points) rallied for a 2-1 overtime win over the Victoria Salmon Kings before a crowd of 3,645 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.

A scoreless opening period saw both Stockton and Victoria trade scoring opportunities. The Thunder, skating two men short in the lineup after a series of ECHL trade deadline deals earlier in the day, nearly took the lead at the midway point of the frame short-handed as left-winger Tim Sestito and right-winger Tim Verbeek capitalized on a turnover in the neutral zone to create a 2-on-1 scoring opportunity.

Cam Ellsworth held Victoria at-bay with 33 saves, including 13 in the third period. (photo credit: George Steckler)

Sestito, skating into the Salmon King zone down the left side, fed a tape-to-tape pass to Verbeek streaking towards the Victoria goal, only to have his one-time shot attempt stopped by Salmon King goaltender Julien Ellis.

Ellsworth preserved the scoreless on the ensuing Victoria man advantage, turning aside a Steve Lingren one-timer from the right face-off circle. Salmon King right-winger Wes Goldie hit the crossbar with a backhand shot attempt during the abovementioned power-play. The Thunder outshot the Salmon Kings 16-5 in the first period.  

Salmon Kings center Kiel McLeod opened the scoring at the 16:04 mark of the second period on the power-play, capping a 2-on-1 break with left-winger Mike Stutzel with his 25^th goal of the season. McLeod beat Ellsworth glove-side to lift Victoria to a 1-0 lead.

Ellsworth was called upon earlier in the period to stop a break-away opportunity by Salmon King center F.P. Guenette, turning aside a backhand five-hole attempt with a cross-crease pad save. Sestito nearly leveled the score in the final seconds of the frame with a strong rush up the right side into the Victoria zone. The Thunder left-winger made a strong move to cut around a Victoria defender towards the Salmon King goal, but had his shot attempt denied by Ellis to conserve the Salmon King lead.

Melanson began the Thunder rally with his ninth goal of the year just 1:18 into the period to level the score at 1-1, converting a centering pass from Sestito, who fed Melanson from the left corner and allowed the Thunder rookie to bury a one-timer through the five-hole of Ellis for a power-play goal. Ellsworth made 13 saves in the third period to force overtime, which included two point-blank stops on brothers Derek and Jordan Krestanovich.

Melanson then tallied the game-winner 1:02 into the overtime period after Sestito forced a turnover at center ice. Sestito fed a streaking Melanson up the middle of the ice, who raced past the Victoria defense for a breakaway and cashed in the game-winner with a backhanded deke on Ellis.

Sestito supported the Thunder offense with two assists.

The Thunder continues its eight-game homestand on Friday, March 9, with a 7:30 p.m. game against the Victoria Salmon Kings 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. STK - Mathieu Melanson
2. STK - Cam Ellsworth
3. VIC - Julien Ellis

Click here to view the game's box score.