12/08/2007 11:34 PM -

LAS VEGAS EDGES, IN A GAME ON-EDGE
Boron stops 26 for Stockton, Mosienko lifts Las Vegas to win with shorthander

STATS: Box score


STOCKTON, Calif. - Tyler Mosienko's shorthanded goal at the 3:18 mark of the third period lifted the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 2-1 win over the Stockton Thunder (9-11-2, 20 points) at Stockton Arena on Saturday.

The Thunder, who gave up its first shorthanded goal of the year, outshot the Wranglers by a 24-14 pace in the final two periods but were stonewalled by goaltender John Ceci's 29 saves in net, picking up his first win in a Wranglers uniform.

Both teams combined for a hefty 103 penalty minutes and five game misconducts.

The Thunder jumped out to a 1-0 lead on rookie Ryan O'Marra's team-leading ninth goal of the season, converting on a five-minute major power-play when Brad Farynuk's snap-shot from the right point deflected off Las Vegas goaltender John Ceci's right pad and on O'Marra's stick, who stuffed the rebound on the doorstep.

The power-play was set up when Las Vegas forward Brandon Kaleniecki was ejected for a vicious elbow thrown to Thunder right wing Ryan MacMurchy. Kaleniecki was given a five-minute elbowing penalty and a game misconduct.

Thunder goaltender Tim Boron stopped all 14 shots in the first period.  

Former NHL veteran Chris Ferraro scored his sixth goal of the season to knot the game at 1-1 at the 11:45 mark of the second period, converting on the power-play when Mike Madill's slapshot from the right point deflected off the stick of Ferraro and past Boron. Ceci turned aside all 11 Thunder shots in the second period, including three consecutive chances on rebounds by O'Marra and Andy Contois.

Just 21 seconds later, emotions boiled over after a whistle in the Thunder defensive zone when Jacob Micflikier and Mosienko engaged in fisticuffs, spawning two other scraps between the Thunder's Geoff Paukovich with Tyson Strachan and the Thunder's L.P. Lachance with the Wranglers' Shawn Limpright. The four aforementioned players were given game misconducts (secondary altercation) and ejected with all players receiving five-minute fighting majors.

The move dwindled Las Vegas to just 11 players on its bench and the Thunder was forced to play two men short of its full lineup.  

Mosienko scored the game-deciding goal early in the the third period by taking Aki Seitsonen's clearing pass from the Las Vegas zone, stickhandling with the puck into Thunder territory, juking by a defender and lifting a wrist shot that deflected off the right arm of Boron and into the net.

Thunder forward Stephane Goulet barely missed a chance to tie the game late, when a shot from the left point caromed off traffic and eluded his stick into the slot with a semi-open target.

NOTES:  Right wing Spencer Carbery was a healthy scratch ... the Thunder fell to 3-11-1 in the all-time series to Las Vegas and carries a 5-4-0 record at Stockton Arena this season ... Boron made 26 saves for the Thunder.

The Thunder returns to play on Tuesday, December 11 with a 8:15 p.m. road game against the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena. The game can be heard live on radio at 1420 KSTN and the internet (video and audio available) at http://www.stocktonthunder.com/, courtesy of B2 Networks.

Host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and festivities on Jan. 22 and 23, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets for 2007-08 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. LV - 56 John Ceci
2. LV - 13 Chris Ferraro
3. STK - 22 Ryan O'Marra