Game 1 Preview: Stockton Thunder at Idaho Steelheads

Published on May 3, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Friday, May 3, 2013

TIME: 6:10 p.m.

SITE: Century Link Arena

RADIO: 1360 AM KFIV/StocktonThunder.com (America One)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Idaho Steelheads: Dallas Stars

NEXT HOME GAME

Wednesday, May 8 vs. Idaho Steelheads (7:00 p.m.)

GAME 3 - WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The fourth seeded Thunder is headed to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in four seasons, with Game 1 against the third seeded Idaho Steelheads set for tonight at Century Link Arena at 6:10 p.m. The Thunder won the season series 3-2, taking the three of the last four games, all at Stockton Arena. These two teams last met in the playoffs in the 2010 National Conference Finals, when the Steelheads eliminated the Thunder 4-2. The Thunder and Steelheads also met in the 2007 National Conference Quarterfinals. Idaho won that matchup in six games as well.

STOCKTON VS. IDAHO - WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

(all times listed PT)

Game 1: Stockton at Idaho - Friday, May 3 - 6:10 p.m. (Century Link Arena)

Game 2: Stockton at Idaho - Sunday, May 5 - 4:10 p.m. (Century Link Arena)

Game 3: Idaho at Stockton - Wednesday, May 8 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 4: Idaho at Stockton - Friday, May 10 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 5: Idaho at Stockton - Saturday, May 11 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *

Game 6: Stockton at Idaho - Monday, May 13 - 6:10 p.m. (Century Link Arena) *

Game 7: Stockton at Idaho - Tuesday, May 14 - 6:10 p.m. (Century Link Arena) *

*If necessary

BREAKDOWN: THUNDER ALL-TIME RECORD BY GAMES

GAME ONE

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

Apr. 10, 2007 NQF Idaho Qwest Arena W, 4-2 - Dubnyk/Silverthorn Tim Sestito

Apr. 11, 2008 NQF Las Vegas Orleans Arena W, 4-2 - Boron/Lalande Jonas Almtorp

Apr. 10, 2009 PSF Ontario CB Bank Arena L, 3-4 - Perugini-PITTON/Zatkoff Shawn Germain

Apr. 24, 2009 PF Las Vegas Stockton Arena W, 4-3 - Van Buskirk/Fisher-DeCARO Cory Urquhart

Apr. 5, 2010 NQF Alaska Menard Center L, 3-4 - Perugini/Sauer B.J. Crum

Apr. 16, 2010 NSF Bakersfield Rabobank Arena W, 3-2 10:18 Perugini/Levasseur J.F. Caudron

Apr. 30, 2010 NCF Idaho Qwest Arena L, 2-4 - PERUGINI-Pitton/Bachman Mark McCutcheon

Apr. 5, 2011 WQF Utah Maverik Center L, 2-5 - Sexsmith/Lamoureux Matt Reber

Apr. 3, 2012 WQF Colorado Stockton Arena W, 3-1 - Roy/Jones Jesse Fratkin

Apr. 13, 2012 WSF Alaska Sullivan Arena L, 1-2 - Roy/Coleman Garry Nunn

Apr. 5, 2013 WQF Las Vegas Stockton Arena W, 3-2 3:49 Roy/Fallon Matt Bergland

Apr. 19. 2013 WSF Alaska Sullivan Arena L, 2-5 - Roy/Coleman Alex Hudson

All-time game one record: 6-6

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 3-2-0)

Wed. Nov. 14 Stockton 2 at Idaho 4

Sun. Nov. 18 Idaho 3 at Stockton 4

Fri. Feb. 1 Idaho 3 at Stockton 2

Sat. Feb. 2 Idaho 2 at Stockton 3

Sat. Mar. 30 Idaho 2 at Stockton 4

SEASON SERIES IN REVIEW:

The Thunder finished 3-2-0 against Idaho this season with neither team winning by more than two goals in any game ... the season series kicked off on Nov. 14 with the long game in Boise ... third period goals by Kael Mouillierat and Neil Graham pushed the Steelheads to a 4-2 win at Century Link Arena ... Stockton got revenge four days later at home ... Harrison Reed and Phil Mangan scored third period goals as the Thunder held on for a 4-3 win on 11/18 at Stockton Arena ... David Toews stunned the Thunder with 43 seconds left in a 3-2 Steelheads win on 2/1 at Stockton Arena ... the force was with the Thunder on "Star Wars Night" on 2/2 as five goals in the second period (three by the Thunder) resulted in a 3-2 win at Stockton Arena - two goals went to Harrison Reed ... Ryan Hayes's two goals helped the Thunder topple the Steelheads 4-2 in the regular season finale on 3/30 at Stockton Arena.

STOCKTON VS. IDAHO - THE LAST TIME OUT: 2010 NATIONAL CONFERENCE FINALS

STOCKTON THUNDER (#6) VS. IDAHO STEELHEADS (#1)

Thunder Summary: Won-2 Lost-4

Date Score Attend. Goaltenders GW Goal

Apr. 30, 2010 (1) Thunder 2, @ Steelheads 4 3139 PERUGINI-Pitton/Bachman Mark McCutcheon

May 1, 2010 (2) Thunder 0, @ Steelheads 4 4827 Perugini/Bachman Brandon Kushniruk

May 5, 2010 (3) @ Thunder 1, Steelheads 0 (3OT) 3441 Pitton/Bachman Ryan Constant

May 7, 2010 (4) @ Thunder 7, Steelheads 2 4932 Pitton/BACHMAN-Beauchemin Jason Pitton

May 8, 2010 (5) @ Thunder 3, Steelheads 6 4521 Pitton/Beauchemin Marty Flichel

May 11, 2010 (6) Thunder 5, @ Steelheads 7 4200 Perugini/Beauchemin Mark Derlago

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 has won ten consecutive playoff games in sudden death overtime and went 2-0 in postseason overtime last year. Since Matt Thomas took over as Thunder head coach in 2008-09, Stockton is 10-1 in sudden death overtime in the playoffs. The last Thunder win in sudden death overtime came in a 4-3 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Alaska Aces, with Nik Pokulok 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. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder:

- Recorded record of 26-12-3

- 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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