Sexsmith stymies Steelheads

(Stockton, CA) - Stockton's Tyson Sexsmith stopped all 29 shots he faced on Sunday as the Thunder rode his goaltending and two early goals to a 4-0 win over the Idaho Steelheads on Sunday. The game, played before an announced crowd of 5,339 at Stockton Arena, got off to a rough start for Idaho. Garet Hunt and Jason Pitton each scored in the first eight minutes of play, staking Sexsmith and the Thunder to a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish. Idaho (29-24-13, 70 points) had an opportunity to creep back into the game late in the second period. Geoff Irwin drew a penalty shot on a breakaway when he was pulled to the ice by Ryan Constant. Irwin's penalty shot beat Sexsmith cleanly, but it hit the post instead of the net to preserve the 2-0 lead. In the final seconds of the period, Michael Neal picked up a loose puck right in front of the Stockton net and was able to snap a quick shot at Sexsmith, but the Thunder netminder stopped it with the leg pad. Stockton (34-22-10, 78 points) added a pair of insurance goals in the third, one from Jordan Foreman and the other from Jordan Fulton, to salt away the victory. Adrien Lemay got the start in net for the Steelheads but was pulled from the game after giving up the two early goals. Dusty Carlson came on in relief to stop 12 of 14 Stockton shots over the final 50 minutes of play. Idaho went 0-5 on the power play as the league's top-ranked power play unit has now come up empty on its last 17 tries with the man advantage. Stockton was 1-5 on the power play. Idaho remains in fifth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Utah Grizzlies. The Steelheads return home on Wednesday, March 23, to begin "Pink in the Rink" Week against the Ontario Reign. The Steelheads will wear specially-themed pink jerseys that will be auctioned off to raise money to fund the battle against breast cancer. The two teams play Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Tickets are available at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling 208.331.TIXS. COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Geoff Irwin AQUAFINA THREE STARS 1) Tyson Sexsmith (STK) 2) Jordan Foreman (STK) 3) Garet Hunt (STK)