Game 5 Preview: Stockton Thunder vs. Reading Royals (Kelly Cup Finals)

Published on May 25, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Saturday, May 25, 2013

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: 1360 AM KFIV/StocktonThunder.com (America One)/92.5 FM (in arena feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Reading Royals: Washington Capitals

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

National Anthem Singer: Connie Rill

Public Address Announcer: DJ Walker

In-Arena Emcee: "Hot Rod"

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder battles the Reading Royals in Game 5 of the Kelly Cup Finals in only the third Finals game to be played in the state of California. The Thunder aims to cut into Reading's 3-1 series lead and is 9-3 at home in the postseason. The Thunder previously defeated Idaho, 4-1 in the Western Conference Final. The first seed Royals, who are also playing in their first Kelly Cup Finals, dispatched the eighth seed Greenville Road Warriors and the fourth seed Florida Everblades (the defending champs) before eliminating the second seed Cincinnati Cyclones in five games in the conference finals.

STOCKTON VS. READING - KELLY CUP FINALS (all times listed PT)

(Reading leads, 3-1)

Game 1: Stockton 5 at Reading 6 (OT)

Game 2: Stockton 0 at Reading 4

Game 3: Reading 3 at Stockton 1

Game 4: Reading 3 at Stockton 4

Game 5: Reading at Stockton - Saturday, May 25 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 6: Stockton at Reading - Tuesday, May 28 - 4:05 p.m. (Sovereign Center) *

Game 7: Stockton at Reading - Wednesday, May 29 - 4:05 p.m. (Sovereign Center) *

*If necessary

BREAKDOWN: THUNDER ALL-TIME RECORD BY GAMES

GAME FIVE

DATE ROUND OPP. LOCATION SCORE OT GOALIES (STK/opp) GWG

Apr. 16, 2007 NQF Idaho Stockton Arena L, 2-3 (OT) 6:54 Dubnyk/Silverthorn Lance Galbraith

Apr. 20, 2008 NQF Las Vegas Stockton Arena W, 6-3 - Boron/LALANDE-Sims Stephane Goulet

Apr. 19, 2009 PSF Ontario Stockton Arena W, 4-2 - Van Buskirk/Zatkoff Craig Valette

May 4, 2009 PF Las Vegas Orleans Arena L, 2-4 - Van Buskirk/Fisher Dan Spang

Apr. 24, 2010 NSF Bakersfield Stockton Arena W. 7-4 * - Perugini/Pielmeier Colin Hemingway

May 8, 2010 NCF Idaho Stockton Arena L, 3-6 - Pitton/Beauchemin Marty Flichel

April 21, 2012 WSF Alaska Stockton Arena L, 1-4 - Roy/Coleman Steve Ward

April 10, 2013 WQF Las Vegas Orleans Arena L, 0-3 - Roy/Fallon Andrew Sarauer

April 28, 2013 WSF Alaska Stockton Arena L, 2-4 - Roy/Coleman Alex Hudson

May 11, 2013 WCF Idaho Stockton Arena W, 2-1 - Roy/Robinson Andrew Clark

All-time game five record: 4-6

GLORY HAYES

Ryan Hayes, acquired in a trade by the Thunder from South Carolina on Mar. 1 for future considerations, is tied for the ECHL lead in playoff scoring (24 points) and assists (15) in 20 games. His 24 points has broken the Thunder single season playoff record (19) set by Oren Eizenman in 2009-10. Hayes had a seven game scoring streak (12 points), tied for the longest in the league for the postseason through Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals vs. Idaho.

PLAYOFF MATT-STER

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas leads the ECHL all-time playoff list with most games coached (96), surpassing Hall of Famer John Brophy. He enters the Kelly Cup Finals third in ECHL postseason history with 49 wins. He won a Kelly Cup title with Atlantic City in 2003 as assistant coach. This is Thomas' second appearance in the Finals and first trip to Reading since the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game when he served as a coach. Thomas coached his 95th postseason game on May 21, setting the record of most career playoff games coached in ECHL history.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Thunder and Royals tied a Kelly Cup Finals record for most goals in one period (six in the third period of game one), shared with Mississippi and Richmond (game six - 1999).

BIG GAME BUNZ

Tyler Bunz earned his first career postseason win in Game 4 of the Kelly Cup Finals on Friday at Stockton Arena, relieving Olivier Roy in the first period. Bunz has a save percentage of .945 in three playoff appearances and had a .910 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average in 32 career WHL playoff appearances with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Bunz was named WHL Goaltender of the Year last season.

COUNT ON CLARK

Andrew Clark is third in ECHL playoff scoring with 21 points in 21 games, leading all league rookies in playoff scoring as well. Four of his seven goals have come as game-winners and he also scored a game tying goal with five seconds left in regulation in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Alaska, en route to 4-3 overtime win which eliminated the Aces.

THE COMEBACK KIDS - IN ONE PARAGRAPH

The Thunder leads the ECHL with four wins when trailing after two periods in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Stockton also leads the ECHL with 26 goals in the third period. The last time the Thunder came from behind in the third period and won was in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinal in a 4-3 overtime win, eliminating the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena. In a seven game victory over Las Vegas in the first round, the Thunder rallied for two wins (Game 1 and Game 6) when trailing by two goals or more. They are 9-7 in the playoffs when the opposing team scores first.

RECORD RUN

The Thunder tied its playoff record with five goals in one period (3rd) on Apr. 12 in its 5-3 comeback win over the Las Vegas Wranglers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinal. The feat equaled the accomplishment which was set twice in the Conference Quarterfinal in 2010 against the Alaska Aces, set in Game 3 (3rd period) and in Game 4 (1st period). Stockton won that series, 3-1.

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL(ER)

Thunder forward Shawn Weller collected 17 points and a +6 rating in 19 regular season games since joining the Thunder during the middle of the season. Weller, a former captain of Bakersfield and South Carolina and an ECHL All-Star in 2010, was acquired by the Thunder from South Carolina on Jan. 25 in exchange for defenseman Cameron Brodie and future considerations. Following his arrival, Weller posted four multi point games and tied his career high with a four point outing on Mar. 10 vs. Ontario.

MAN ADVANTAGE

This season, the Thunder ranked fourth in the ECHL on power play (20.9%) percentage. Harrison Reed - who led the Thunder in scoring with 45 points in 46 games - earned 12 goals on the man advantage which finished fifth in the ECHL. Their best streak was nine straight games with a power play goal from Jan. 12 to Feb. 1.

OVERTIME HEROICS

The Thunder had won eleven consecutive playoff games in sudden death overtime until Game 3 of the Conference Finals and is 5-2 in playoff overtime this season, tying the ECHL single season playoff record for most overtime wins. Since Matt Thomas took over as Thunder head coach in 2008-09, Stockton is 11-2 in sudden death overtime in the playoffs. The last Thunder win in sudden death overtime came in a 4-3 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Idaho Steelheads, with Andrew Clark scoring the game-winner.

RUNNING TO THE FINISH LINE

Dating back to Feb. 15, the Thunder completed a run to the regular season's conclusion with a record of 13-6-0. They won their final four games of the regular season which was their longest winning streak since Oct. 20 to Nov. 4 (6-0-0). Seven wins during the final 19 games were decided by one goal.

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 314 games played.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 26-12-3 and 9-3 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder:

- Recorded record of 26-13-3

- Totaled 17 games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition 20 times this season

- Posted 25 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in 20 of the last 30 games

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