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Pitton Ready To Play In Game

January 15, 2010

By Scott Linesburgh
Staff Writer
The Stockton Record

STOCKTON, Calif. - Bryan Pitton has amassed plenty of frequent-flyer miles while getting the chance to see how an NHL team trains, practices and prepares for games.

But what he hasn't done since the new year began is play.

The goaltender gets back in the net at 7:30 p.m. on Friday when the Thunder hosts the Utah Grizzlies at Stockton Arena. Pitton has spent his time going between the Thunder and the injury-plagued Edmonton Oilers, where he was the backup goalie to former ECHL goaltender Jeff Deslauriers.

His last game was a 40-save performance against the Idaho Steelheads in the Thunder's 5-1 victory Dec. 31.

"I haven't played, but I've gone through times when I haven't played for awhile before, and I've been practicing with both teams," Pitton said. "Travel is part of this business, and I'm ready to go. The experience with the Oilers has been invaluable."

Players move around in hockey, but three goalies have been moving around more than usual because of the bad back of 37-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin, who was scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk Thursday and is out indefinitely. He signed a four-year, $15 million contract before the season and last appeared for the Oilers on Nov. 16.

Edmonton has been rotating goalies to fill its gaps. Pitton and former Thunder Devan Dubnyk have spent time on the Oilers' roster, and Aaron Sorochan has moved between the Thunder and the Springfield (Mass.) Falcons of the American Hockey League.

Pitton has been on the Oilers' roster three times, twice since he played his last game. He has spent most of his time in practice, and served as the backup goalie in a loss to San Jose on Jan. 2.

Going into today's game, Pitton is back with fellow goalie Andrew Perugini in Stockton, Sorochan is with the Falcons and Dubnyk has rejoined the Oilers and started Thursday against Pittsburgh. Springfield added another goaltender Thursday when it signed Andrew Penner from the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League.

"There's a lot movement and a lot of uncertainty for guys, but that's the business and that's what we sign up for," Thunder coach Matt Thomas said. "At the end of the day you want the opportunity to go up and show you are the guy they can count on. Obviously there's an element to it that isn't ideal, but you want a chance to play at the highest level possible."

Pitton, a fifth-round pick for the Oilers in the 2006 NHL Draft, said his brief stints with the Oilers have been enjoyable and educational.

"It was great. It's what you dream about," Pitton said. "The veterans welcomed me when I first got there, and I got to see how they do things at that level."

His job tonight is to help the Thunder (14-16-4) win its first game of the season against the Grizzlies (16-15-4). Forward and alternate captain Igor Gongalsky, who was in training camp with the Phoenix Coyotes, said the trips to the NHL can only help Pitton.

"He'll be a better player because of it, just by being there," Gongalsky said. "You pick up things and see how they do things at that level that always stay with you."

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