Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Utah Grizzlies

Published on January 2, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Wednesday, January 2, 2013

TIME: 6:05 p.m.

SITE: Maverik Center

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Utah Grizzlies: Calgary Flames

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Jan. 4 vs. Alaska Aces (7:30 p.m.)

WALL CLING GIVEAWAY (presented by KAT Country 103)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder faces the Utah Grizzlies at Maverik Center to continue a seven game series between the two teams. The Thunder is 2-1-1 since continuing play from the holiday break and is 2-1-0 against the Grizzlies this season. The last time the two teams met in Utah was Monday in a 5-1 Thunder defeat. The Grizzlies carry three active players on their roster with NHL experience (Trevor Lewis, Brad Mills and Riley Armstrong).

2012-13 Head to Head Schedule: (2-1-0)

Mon. Nov. 12 Stockton 9 at Utah 6

Fri. Nov. 16 Utah 2 at Stockton 6

Mon. Dec. 31 Stockton1 at Utah 5

Wed. Jan. 2, 2013 at Utah 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 25 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 26 Utah 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Jan. 27 Utah 4:00 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 10-0-2 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

UTA 5 - STK 1 (12/31/12): Riley Armstrong scored a pair of shorthanded goals and added an assist to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Stockton Thunder (17-10-7, 41 points) to a 5-1 defeat before a crowd of 8,226 at Maverik Center on Monday. The Thunder, entering the game with the second best power play in the ECHL and allowing just two shorthanded goals this season, surrendered a team record three shorthanded tallies in the game. Utah held the Thunder to an 0-for-6 clip on the power play. Toni Rajala buried the lone Thunder in the game, a shorthanded breakaway in the third period.

LV 3 - STK 2 (OT) (12/29/12): A total of 6,431 fans saw the final Thunder home game of the year at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The 2012 finale saw a back-and-forth battle decided by Adam Hughesman's goal in overtime, as the Stockton Thunder (17-9-7, 41 points) fell to the Las Vegas Wranglers 3-2. Forwards Yannick Riendeau and Philippe Cornet (first game back from the AHL) each found the back of the net. Goaltender Cody Reichard (7-2-4) recorded 42 saves for the Thunder, while Las Vegas' Joe Fallon stopped 28 in net. The Thunder only had four defenseman activated for the game.

STK 6 - BAK 3 (12/28/12): Eric Hunter and Justin Maylan each buried two goals while goaltender Tyler Bunz made 21 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (17-9-6, 40 points) to a 6-3 victory over the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who led wire to wire in the game and improved to 6-1-1 this season over their division rivals, buried a pair of power play goals and collected multi point games from Teigan Zahn and Yannick Riendeau as well.

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game last Thursday at Bakersfield and helped out offensively with an assist in a 4-2 Thunder win. Little was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team last season and was the first selection in Thunder history.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is second in ECHL rookie scoring with 29 points this season in 32 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted eight multi point games and buried a pair of goals last Friday at Bakersfield.

ROLLING IN THE (RIEN)DEAU

Forward Yannick Riendeau has 19 points in the last 16 games (since Dec. 1) and has posted ten multi point games this season. He earned a goal and an assist last Saturday vs. Las Vegas and is on an eight game assist streak at home.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award when he took the honor on Dec. 11. Reichard posted a record of 2-0-1, a 2.30 goals-against average and a .966 save percentage for the week of Dec. 3-9.

AN OFFENSE DRESSED TO THE NINES

The Thunder tied a club record for most goals in a game (9) on Nov. 12 in a 9-6 victory at Utah, matching the record previously set on Dec. 10, 2011 against Bakersfield. The Thunder also notched a season high for most goals (5) in a period, accomplishing the feat in the second period at Maverik Center on Nov. 12. The Thunder is averaging 3.4 goals per game this season, ranking seventh in the ECHL (as of Tuesday). The Thunder has also scored six goals or more in a game seven times this season.

COVERED WITH OIL

The Edmonton Oilers return as the NHL affiliate of the Thunder for the seventh straight season, helping advance eight players from the Thunder onto playing in the National Hockey League. The Thunder has also never missed the playoffs since first connecting with the Oilers in 2006-07. Edmonton has won five Stanley Cup championships and sent seven players onto induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Among the players assigned to Stockton, beginning this season, was LW Philippe Cornet, who made his NHL debut with Edmonton and led the AHL affiliate Oklahoma City Barons with 24 goals last season.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Garet Hunt was named the sixth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 12, taking the "C" for the first time in his career for full-time duty. Hunt served as an alternate captain for the Thunder last season and has helped guide the team to the playoffs for four straight seasons since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. Hunt is the Thunder all time leader with 277 games played.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Ryan Constant is 3 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Yannick Riendeau is 9 assists away from 100 in his professional career

- Mike Little is 4 games away from 100 in his Thunder career

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