
Game 2 Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers
April 6, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release
DATE: Saturday, April 6, 2013
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
SITE: Stockton Arena
RADIO: 1360 AM KFIV/StocktonThunder.com (America One)/92.5 FM (in house feed)
NHL AFFILIATES
Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers
Las Vegas Wranglers: Independent
HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES
National Anthem Singer: Avery Chapman
Public Address Announcer: DJ Walker
In-Arena Emcee: "Hot Rod"
NEXT HOME GAME
Friday, April 12 vs. Las Vegas Wranglers (7:30 p.m.)*
GAME 6 - WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL
*If necessary
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP
The fourth seeded Thunder will look to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the fifth seeded Las Vegas Wranglers tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena. The Thunder battled back from down 0-2 in Game 1, with two goals just 1:43 apart in the third period and the game-winner 3:49 into overtime from Matt Bergland. The Thunder has now won its last seven overtime playoff games. Thunder head coach Matt Thomas took the win over Wranglers head coach Ryan Mougenel (who served as Thomas' assistant coach from 2005-09. Mougenel was a forward for the 2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, who won the Kelly Cup with Thomas as an assistant coach.
BREAKDOWN: THUNDER ALL-TIME RECORD BY GAMES
GAME TWO
DATE ROUND OPP. LOCATION SCORE OT GOALIES (STK/opp) GWG
Apr. 11, 2007 NQF Idaho Qwest Arena L, 0-3 - Dubnyk/Silverthorn Derek Nesbitt
Apr. 12, 2008 NQF Las Vegas Orleans Arena L, 4-5 (OT) 0:28 Boron/Lalande Ryan Donally
Apr. 11, 2009 PSF Ontario CB Bank Arena W, 6-5 - Pitton/Zatkoff Craig Valette
Apr. 27, 2009 PF Las Vegas Orleans Arena L, 204 - Van Buskirk/Fisher Jason Dest
Apr. 6, 2010 NQF Alaska Menard Center W, 5-2 - Perugini/Sauer J.F. Caudron
Apr. 17, 2010 NSF Bakersfield Rabobank Arena W, 4-3 (OT) 9:01 Perugini/Pielmeier Oren Eizenman
May 1, 2010 NCF Idaho Qwest Arena L, 0-4 - Perugini/Bachman Brandon Kushniruk
Apr. 6, 2011 WQF Utah Maverik Center W, 3-2 (OT) 3:54 Sexsmith/Lamoureux Kelly Czuy
Apr. 4, 2012 WQF Colorado Stockton Arena W, 3-2 (OT) 0:17 Roy/Jones Chris D'Alvise
Apr. 14, 2012 WSF Alaska Sullivan Arena W, 3-2 (OT) 9:19 Roy/Coleman Chris D'Alvise
All-time game two record: 6-4
2012-13 SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 4-1-3)
Fri. Oct. 19 Stockton 2 at Las Vegas 3 (OT)
Sat. Oct. 20 Stockton 5 at Las Vegas 4
Tue. Dec. 4 Las Vegas 1 at Stockton 3
Wed. Dec. 5 Las Vegas 0 at Stockton 1
Sat. Dec. 8 Stockton 3 at Las Vegas 4 (SO)
Sat. Dec. 29 Las Vegas 3 at Stockton 2 (OT)
Fri. Mar. 8 Las Vegas 3 at Stockton 4
Sat. Mar. 9 Las Vegas 3 at Stockton 2
SEASON SERIES IN REVIEW :
The Thunder finished 4-1-3 against Las Vegas this season and won four of the five games that ended in regulation ... The two teams split the first two games in the season series at Las Vegas on Oct. 19-20 ... Scott Campbell's overtime goal gave the Wranglers a 3-2 win over the Thunder in the season series opener on Oct. 19 ... Cameron Brodie got revenge for the Thunder with the game-winning goal with 16 seconds left for a 5-4 win the next night ... Cody Reichard made 38 saves in both a 3-1 Thunder win on Dec. 4 at Stockton Arena and a 1-0 victory on Dec. 5 at home for the first shutout of his pro career ... the Thunder scored three power play goals in a 4-3 shootout loss on Dec. 8 at Orleans Arena - Chris Francis finished with two goals ... Las Vegas ended the Thunder's 2012 schedule at Stockton Arena with a 3-2 overtime win on Dec. 29 thanks to Adam Hughesman's goal ... the two teams split two games at Stockton arena on Mar. 8-9 in the season series finale ... Maxime Boisclair finished with three points in a 4-3 Thunder win on Mar. 8 ... former Thunder player Judd Blackwater finished with two points and the game-winning goal in a 3-2 Las Vegas win in the Mar. 9 finale.
PLAYOFF SERIES RECAP:
GAME 1 - STK 3 - LV 2 (OT) (4/5/13): Matt Bergland's wrist shot 3:49 into overtime helped the Stockton Thunder finish off a rally from a two goal deficit to take Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, 3-2 over the Las Vegas Wranglers at Stockton Arena on Friday. Bergland, who finished an up ice rush with a wrist shot from the right circle, notched Stockton's seventh consecutive overtime victory in the playoffs. He was joined on the scoresheet by center Harrison Reed and defenseman Shawn Boutin, who notched his first goal with the Thunder. Goaltender Olivier Roy made 29 saves, while Las Vegas' Joe Fallon stopped 27 shots.
THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST
During the month of February, the Thunder defense limited opponents to three goals or less in each of the seven games featuring a win or shootout loss (Feb. 9 at Alaska - 3-2 shootout loss). The Thunder defense allowed just two goals or less in five of the previous seven games.
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL(ER)
Thunder forward Shawn Weller collected 17 points and a +5 rating in 20 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.
STOCKTON VS. LAS VEGAS - THE LAST TIME OUT: 2009 PACIFIC DIVISION FINALS
STOCKTON THUNDER (#4) VS. LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS (#2)
Thunder Summary: Won-3 Lost-4
Date Score Attend. Goaltenders GW Goal
Apr. 24, 2009 (1) @ Thunder 4, Wranglers 3 4398 Van Buskirk/Fisher-DeCARO Cory Urquhart
Apr. 27, 2009 (2) Thunder 2, @ Wranglers 4 2816 Van Buskirk/Fisher Jason Dest
Apr. 30, 2009 (3) @ Thunder 5, Wranglers 1 4237 Van Buskirk/DeCaro Craig Valette
May 2, 2009 (4) @ Thunder 2, Wranglers 3 (OT) 6596 Van Buskirk/DeCaro Mick Lawrence
May 4, 2009 (5) Thunder 2, @ Wranglers 4 5389 Van Buskirk/Fisher Dan Spang
May 5, 2009 (6) Thunder 3, @ Wranglers 1 3136 Van Buskirk/Fisher Kenny MacAulay
May 6, 2009 (7) Thunder 1, @ Wranglers 5 3282 Van Buskirk/Fisher Tyler Mosienko
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 seven 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 7-1 in sudden death overtime in the playoffs. The last Thunder win in sudden death overtime came last night in a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Las Vegas Wranglers, with Matt Bergland 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 23-11-3. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:
At home this season, the Thunder:
- Recorded record of 23-11-3
- Totaled 15 games of scoring four goals or more
- Outshot the opposition 19 times this season
- Posted 24 games of 30 shots on goal or more
- Collected at least one power play goal in 19 of the last 27 games
ECHL Stories from April 6, 2013
- Royals Take Game Two with Second Shutout over Greenville - Reading Royals
- Elmira Evens Series with Big Win Game 2 - Florida Everblades
- Elmira Outshines Florida For Game 2 Win - Elmira Jackals
- Pacan's Hat Trick Highlights Cyclones 5-2 Rout of Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Royals Topple Road Warriors in Game 2 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Gladiators Slip Past Stingrays in Game 2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Win Game 2, Beat Stingrays 3-2, Lead - Atlanta Gladiators
- Thunder Playoff Watch Parties Return to King's Room of Stockton Arena - Stockton Thunder
- Game 2 Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - April 6 - ECHL
- Barton and Darling Join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Wheeling Nailers
- Bulls Take on Aces in Game 2 of Western Conference Quarterfinals - San Francisco Bulls
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Elmira Jackals Game Preview - Elmira Jackals
- Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Utah Grizzlies - Ontario Reign
- Idaho Adds Pair of AHL'ers to Playoff Roster - Idaho Steelheads
- Stingrays Playoff Game Preview: Stingrays and Gladiators Square off in Game 2 Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - April 6 - ECHL
- Aces Tame Bulls 5-1 in Game One Win - Alaska Aces
- Bergland caps comeback with overtime winner, Thunder takes 1-0 series lead - Stockton Thunder
- SF Bulls Lose Playoff Opener to Aces - San Francisco Bulls
- Thunder Edge Wranglers in Game 1 OT, 3-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Ontario Gets Overtime Win in Utah - Utah Grizzlies
- Reign Jump to 3-0 Series Lead with 2-1 Comeback Win in OT - Ontario Reign
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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