Thunder Play Final Game vs. Utah
March 2, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release
The Thunder and Utah Grizzlies meet for the final time this season tonight at 7:05 p.m. PST from West Valley City
Arena: Maverik Center
Date: Monday, March 2
Time: 7:05 p.m. PST
Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 6:50 p.m. PST
This Year's Record: Stockton is 3-4-0-0 vs. Utah
Follow the Thunder Facebook Page for occasional updates or follow @StocktonThunder on Twitter for the play-by-play tweeting!
Last Time vs. Utah
An early Alex Krushelnyski goal just 1:08 in the game snatched the early lead for the Grizzlies but an early second period goal from the Thunder tied the game.
Tyler Shattock tipped home an Austin Levi shot to tie the game, and it would stay that way until Kevin Lind scored on the power play later in the period.
Just before the midway mark of the third T.J. Syner found Ryan Hayes in past the Thunder defense and Hayes put a backhand deke past Kent Simpson for the two-goal lead.
Jack Combs would give the Thunder some hope when he scored with under 17 seconds left. A mad scramble at the end nearly tied the game but Igor Bobkov would hold his ground and help his team to the 3-2 win.
Tonight
The Thunder play the Utah Grizzlies for the final time this season and potentially ever at the Maverik Center hoping to earn a season series split against the Grizzlies. While the Thunder have won three meetings between the teams this season, all three have come at Stockton Arena.
The Thunder are trying to halt a four-game Utah winning streak while also snapping six-game losing streak.
Who to Watch
For the final game at Maverik Center we have to go with our proud new papa, Brad Stebner for the player to watch. Apart from setting up Jack Combs in the late stages of the game, Stebner was +1 and has slotted well next to Austin Levi on the blueline since he returned.
Why we pick Stebner as the man to watch tonight? Well how great of a story line is it if Stebner scored at the Maverik Center after having his first child, a son, named Maverick! While Stebner played the first three games of this month in Alaska, he missed seven games for that reason.
A rookie in his first year, Stebner has played in 41 games this season for the Thunder in addition to the five he played during his Amateur Tryout last year with the Thunder. In his 46 game career in the ECHL, Stebner has 1 goal and 9 assists.
All-Time Watch
To continue on the above paragraphs, the scoring situation between Garet Hunt, Ryan Constant and Mike Lalonde is in danger of falling to one of the Thunder's star players very soon.
Lalonde's 156 career Thunder points is in jeopardy as Garet Hunt pulled within a point of the tying the record with 155 while Ryan Constant sits right behind him at 151.
Both Hunt and Constant have missed time due to injuries this season as Hunt missed 11 games while Constant was placed on Injured Reserve on December 14.
Hunt is the only one close to Lalonde's all-time record of 72 goals with his 61 markers, putting the Thunder captain 11 shy of tying the record.
So Long, Farewell
The Thunder are playing the Grizzlies for the final time, potentially, ever tonight on the road. After playing 82 regular season games against Utah, the Thunder will conclude their series with the Grizzlies tonight in game number 83. In the previous 82, the Thunder have posted a 39-35-8 record.
The Thunder would earn a series split with the Grizzlies if they should win tonight as it would bring the series to 4-4-0.
Entering the season, the Thunder had their third highest win-percentage against the Utah Grizzlies (against teams the Thunder have played 30 or more times in their history). The Thunder had their highest percentage against Ontario (.564), Bakersfield (.550) and Utah (.533).
Interesting Fact
Jack Combs, who scored his first goal in a Thunder uniform on Saturday, has been held pointless in just five ECHL games with the Allen Americans and Thunder this season. He'll be playing in his 35th game in the ECHL this season tonight.
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