San Francisco Bulls goaltender #29 Tayler Nelson and forward #49 Jordan Clendenning celebrates after their victory over the Stockton Thunder on January 19, 2013 at the Cow Palace. Mandatory Credit: Mike Tkacheff

STOCKTON, Calif. – Wrapping up a three-game series with their Northern California rivals, the Stockton Thunder (21-15-4-3, 49 points) were outgunned and outpaced by the San Francisco Bulls (15-20-1-4) in a 5-2 loss in front of 5,838 fans at Stockton Arena.

“I thought San Francisco played really well,” Thunder head coach Matt Thomas said, “They worked real hard and took advantage of our mistakes.”

Center Gabriel Levesque (two points) and forward Matt Bergland each found the back of the net for the Thunder

Playing in his third game in as many days, goaltender Cody Reichard (10-6-4) made 15 saves in just over two periods of action before he was pulled for the first time in his career. Taylor Nelson stopped 24 shots for San Francisco.

The Thunder fell behind on their first penalty kill of the game. Cody Carlson launched a shot in from the point at goal. The puck was tipped into the air and over Reichard by Ryan Galiardi, who recorded the goal which gave San Francisco a 1-0 lead 6:34 into the game.

Ten minutes later, Peter Sivak stole the puck at the blue line and skated in for a one-on-one with Reichard. Sivak was able to beat Reichard with a wrist shot, putting the Thunder in a 2-0 hole 16:42 into the first period.

Persistence paid off in the second period. Bergland sent a shot at goal from the right circle. The ensuing rebound was collected by forward Matt Ambroz, who set off a scrum in front of goal. In the scramble, the puck bounced out just above the crease. Bergland, who had swung around the goal, collected the puck and fired a shot by Nelson, reducing the Thunder deficit to 2-1 8:15 into the middle frame.

Sebastien Trudeau signed with the San Francisco Bulls on January 17, 2013. Mandatory credit: Bloomington Blaze media department.

San Francisco answered just four minutes later. Sebastien Trudeau carried the puck from the blue line all the way to behind the Thunder goal, where he beat Reichard on a wrap-around shot at the post to make the count 3-1 at the 12:08 mark of the second period.

Later on in the period, Dean Ouellet fired a shot just above the left circle. The shot bounced off Reichard’s pads and right to Carlson at the crease. Carlson finished the rebound to give the Bulls a 4-1 lead 14:12 into the middle frame.

The Bulls added to their lead 4:54 into the third period. Simon Danis-Pepin sent Jordan Morrison a centering pass from the left boards. Morrison sent a wrist shot that beat Reichard stick side to increase the total to 5-1.

“I thought Reichard played really well tonight,” said Thomas, “I didn’t think he was bad today. I don’t think we gave him much help. Maybe the wrap-around goal he would want to take back, but we didn’t have much. I’m disappointed in our top players. Our go-to offensive players didn’t show up.”

At the 6:26 mark, Reichard was pulled for new signee Jody O’Neill, who entered the game for his first action this season and first since March 17. O’Neill made nine saves and stopped a penalty shot by Alex Tuckerman.

“Once you go out there, you just kind of get in the rhythm,” O’Neill said afterwards, “You’ve just got to live in the moment and forget all of the distractions. Equipment, score, it doesn’t matter.”

Hovering just below the blue line, defenseman Mike Little swung the puck to Levesque, who blasted a one-timer by Nelson to make the count 5-2 16:50 into the third period.

****Article courtesy of the Stockton Thunder****

Credit: Ruben Dominguez – Thunder staff writer

Official Link: http://www.stocktonthunder.com/2013/01/20/recap-ready-break/

3 Stars of the Game:

1. SF – T. Nelson
2. SF – C. Carlson
3. STK – G. Levesque

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Stockton Thunder’s goaltender #38 Cody Riechard turns away the puck against the San Francisco Bulls during the January 19, 2013 game at the Cow Palace. Also pictured is San Francisco forward #18 Alex Tuckerman looks on. Mandatory credit: Mike Tkacheff

Today the San Francisco Bulls will wrap up their three game mini series against the Stockton Thunder in Stockton, CA.  The Bulls are currently 14-20-1-4 on the season and positioned in fourth place in the ECHL’s Pacific Division.  For the host team the Stockton Thunder, they have a 21-14-4-3 record and hold a second place spot in the Pacific.  These two clubs meet for the seventh time of 13 scheduled meetings of the season.  As of today the San Francisco Bulls are currently leading the season series against the Thunder 4-2.

Last night the Bulls defeated the Thunder by a final score of 4-2.  San Francisco got contribution’s from six different players, while Jordan Morrison, Rob Kwiet, and Jonathan Lessard all recorded two points.  Newcomer Jonathan Lessard tallied his first goal of the season in the second period.  In addition, the game winning goal was scored by Kris Belan who registered his seventh goal of the season.

Peter Sivak continues to pace the Bulls in points, adding another to his team leading point lead with 35.  Sivak now has goals in each of his last five games, six total over that span, good for the second best active goal streak in the ECHL.

San Francisco last night welcomed back their physical and grinding defenseman Scott Langdon who was recently suspended for two games due to an illegal check to the head infraction during the January 11, 2012 game in San Francisco vs. Idaho.

Today’s contest has a 4:00p PST puck drop and can be heard on KNBR.com and for America One Sports subscribers at Americaonesports.com.

Stats Report:

Bulls Leaders

San Francisco Bulls forward #45 Dean Ouellet. Mandatory credit: San Francisco media department

Goals: Dean Ouellet – 18

Assists: Peter Sivak – 18

Points: Peter Sivak – 35

Plus/Minus: Scott Langdon – +14

PIM: Kris Belan – 103

Wins: Thomas Heemskerk – 11

GAA: Bryan Hince – 2.81

Save %: Bryan Hince – 0.916

Shutouts: Bryan Hince – 1

Who’s Hot

Peter Sivak – 11 points (7g, 4a) in the past 10 games

Rob Kwiet – 9 points (2g, 7a) in the past 10 games

Stockton Leaders

Stockton Thunders forward #25 Toni Rajala. Mandatory credit: Stockton Thunder Media Department.

Goals: Toni Rajala – 18

Assists: Yannick Riendeau – 29

Points: Yannick Riendeau – 42

Plus/Minus: Eric Hunter – 8

PIM: Garet Hunt – 186

Wins: Tyler Bunz – 11

GAA:  Cody Reichard – 2.54

Save %: Cody Reichard – 0.915

Shutouts: Cody Reichard/Tyler Bunz – 1

Who’s Hot

Yannick Riendeau – 11 points (6g, 5a) in the past 10 games

Eric Hunter – 8 points (3g, 5a) in the past 10 games

*****Official stats report courtesy of the San Francisco Bulls.*****

link: http://sfbulls.com/news/bulls-and-thunder-meet-in-weekend-rubber-match-in-stockton/

LET’S GO BULLS!!!!!!!!!

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San Francisco Bulls celebrate after scoring a goal during the January 19, 2012 game vs. Stockton Thunder at the Cow Palace. Mandatory credit: Mike Tkacheff

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The San Francisco Bulls (14-20-1-4) overcame adversity in the third period to upend the Stockton Thunder (21-14-4-3), 4-2, Saturday night at the Cow Palace in front of a crowd of 5,618.  Kris Belan scored the game-winning tally with 6:04 remaining in the third period. Peter Sivak scored for the fifth game in a row, and Taylor Nelson made 32 saves to earn the victory.

Stockton took a 1-0 lead late in the period on a delayed penalty call. Mike Little got the puck over Nelson for his fifth goal of the season.  Cameron Brodie picked up the only assist on the goal scored with 4:24 remaining in the period.

The Bulls came out on fire in the second period, scoring consecutive goals to take a 2-1 lead.  Sivak lit the lamp after a beautiful pass by Rob Kwiet for his 17th goal of the season at 2:11.  Belan also picked up an assist on the goal. Jonathan Lessard scored his first professional goal at 5:16 to give the Bulls the lead. Lessard found the rebound in front of the goal and slammed it past Stockton’s Cody Reichard.  Kwiet and Jordan Morrison were credited with the assists. Lost in all the goal-scoring in the period was the fantastic goaltending of Nelson, who made a big breakaway save off Eric Hunter when the Bulls were on the power play.

In the third period, controversy struck.  Harrison Reed’s shot on the power play initially looked like hit the post and never crossed the line.  The referee waved off the goal, and play continued.  Following the next stoppage, the referee and linesmen convened and reversed the call, tying the game at two with 7:12 remaining in regulation.  The Bulls were not fazed by the adversity, and took the lead right back, courtesy of Belan’s seventh goal of the season. Jordan Clendenning and Lessard set up the goal with 6:04 remaining in the game to give the Bulls a 3-2 advantage.  The Bulls added an empty net goal from Morrison to seal the victory for the Bulls.

3 Stars of the Game:

1. SF – 29 Taylor Nelson
2. SF – 17 Rob Kwiet
3. SF – 9 Jordan Morrison

****Post-Game Report Credit: Charles Richards****

Official link: http://sfbulls.com/news/bulls-overcome-adversity-upend-stockton-4-2/

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