Idaho Steelheads Nip Stockton Thunder 1-0 - ECHL

STOCKTON, Calif. - Goaltender Rejean Beauchemin secured the fourth shutout of his pro career with 27 saves and outdueled counterpart Bryan Pitton, as the Idaho Steelheads edged the Stockton Thunder (5-10-3, 13 points), 1-0 before 4,790 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

Idaho, who boasts the league's leading defense with 2.3 goals per game allowed, won their eighth straight over the Thunder in the season's head-to-head series on John Swanson's eventual game-winning goal just 1:10 into the final period. Pitton kept the Thunder in the game with 29 saves.

The Thunder, who still seek their first win over Idaho since March 1, 2009 and carry a 5-3-2 record against the rest of their ECHL schedule, were shutout for the first time this year.

Pitton and Beauchemin went head-to-head in the first period and Beauchemin made an array of seven saves from point-blank range, including a 5-on-3 Thunder power-play when he stopped two chances from the slot on Colton Yellow Horn and defenseman Steve Vanoosten.

The Thunder nearly found the back of the net late in the period on a Craig Valette one-timer in the deep slot to a half-open net, but Valette missed the net past the right post with the puck rolling on edge.

Pitton's best save of the period came when he made a diving save at the mid-point on a John Swanson backhanded chance.

The scoreless tie carried through two periods when the Thunder answered Idaho's 12 shots with an array of close-range chances for their eight shots on goal. Beauchemin denied a late breakaway by J.F. Caudron early in the period when his backhander was stopped by the goaltender's left pad.

Among Pitton's 12 saves in the period was a close-range one-timer by Tyler Spurgeon with less than nine minutes left in the period.

Chris D'Alvise threatened with a late shorthanded attack in the period when he weaved his way around an Idaho defenseman toward the slot, but had his snap shot turned aside by Beauchemin's shoulder.

Swanson broke the scoreless tie off the rush when he unleashed a snap shot at the right circle that beat Pitton over the glove in the early stages of the third period.

Beauchemin secured the win amidst a Thunder attack that outshot the Steelheads, 12-4 in the final period. Yellow Horn was denied on a snap shot from the mid slot with less than 14 minutes left in regulation, and the Steelheads outlasted a 6-on-5 Thunder rally in the final minute of play.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Mike Bayrack (injured reserve), Bobby Davey (healthy), Garet Hunt (healthy) and Kelly Czuy (injured reserve) ... Idaho outshot the Thunder, 30-27 ... Beauchemin's win boosted his record in the head-to-head series at 4-0 against the Thunder, with a .948 save percentage ... Pitton, who lost his fourth game in as many decisions against the Steelheads, actually lowered his goals-against-average to 2.02 and raised his save percentage to .940 in the season series ... the Thunder remained tied for third place in the Pacific Division with Las Vegas.

The Thunder returns to play at Stockton Arena for its next game tomorrow against the Idaho Steelheads at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard and viewed online at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 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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