Game Preview (Game 1): Stockton Thunder (#5) Vs. Colorado Eagles

Published on April 3, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS - WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL (GAME 1)

GAME: Stockton Thunder (#5) vs. Colorado Eagles (#4)

DATE: Tuesday, April 3, 2012

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

SITE: Stockton Arena

RADIO: StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)/92.5 FM (live in house feed)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Colorado Eagles: Winnipeg Jets

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

National Anthem Singer: Heather Flohrschutz

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

Pregame Ceremonial Faceoff: Dr. Derron Lee (Midtown Optometry)

NEXT HOME GAME

Wednesday, April 4 vs. Colorado Eagles - 7:00 p.m.

KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS, 1st ROUND (WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL) - GAME 2

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The fifth seeded Thunder will open the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the fourth seeded Colorado Eagles, a best of five series that follows a "2-3" format. The matchup is the first time the Thunder and Eagles will meet in the playoffs. The Thunder advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight year last season and this season marks the first year of ECHL play for Colorado. The Thunder finished 4-5-0 this season against Colorado.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 4-5-0)

Fri. Oct. 14 Colorado 5 at Stockton 2

Fri. Oct. 21 Stockton 1 at Colorado 3

Sat. Oct. 22 Stockton 5 at Colorado 4

Fri. Feb. 10 Stockton 2 at Colorado 5

Sat. Feb. 11 Stockton 1 at Colorado 4

Sat. Feb. 18 Colorado 2 at Stockton 4

Sun. Feb. 19 Colorado 1 at Stockton 3

Tue. Mar. 6 Stockton 4 at Colorado 5

Wed. Mar. 7 Stockton 6 at Colorado 2

SEASON SERIES IN REVIEW :

The Thunder finished 4-5-0 against Colorado this season and won three of the last four games ... Colorado opened the series with a 5-2 win on Opening Night at Stockton Arena on Oct. 14 - Chad Costello scored twice for Colorado ... the two teams split a two game series, Oct. 21-22 in Colorado and the Thunder defeated the Eagles, 5-4 on Oct. 22 for its first win of the season - Matt Foy paced the Thunder offense with two goals and an assist ... Colorado swept the Thunder in a two game series from Feb. 10-11 in Loveland and the Thunder responded with a two game sweep in Stockton from Feb. 18-19 - Olivier Roy combined a 67 save total in the two wins ... the two teams split the final two games in Colorado on Mar. 6-7 ... Colorado clinched a berth in the playoffs in a 5-4 win on Mar. 6 and the Thunder closed the season series with a 6-2 victory the next night, paced by Gabriel Levesque's goal and three assists.

TEAM NOTES (2011-12)

- Mike Little led the ECHL (rookies and defensemen) with a +21 rating

- Kevin Baker led the ECHL with 293 shots

- Olivier Roy was fourth in the ECHL with a .925 save percentage

- Stockton finished third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,916 fans per game

- Stockton is was 16-11-5 in one-goal games

- Stockton was 14-7-1 in the last 22 home games

2011-12 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - Kevin Baker (56)

Goals - Kevin Baker (27)

Assists - Matt Foy (36)

Plus/Minus - Mike Little (+21) (led ECHL defensemen, rookies)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (255)

GAME ONE NOTES

The Thunder is 4-4 all time in game one of the playoffs. Last season, they were defeated by Utah, 5-2 at Maverik Center. Current Thunder forward Matt Reber collected the game winning goal for Utah. The Thunder's last win in game one came on Apr. 16, 2010 in the Conference Semifinal vs. Bakersfield. Stockton defeated Bakersfield 3-2 in overtime and won the best of seven series, 4-1.

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 ArenaW, 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 CenterL, 2-5 - Sexsmith/Lamoureux Matt Reber

All-time game one record: 4-4

CLOSE SHAVE

The Thunder finished with a 16-11-5 record in one goal games this season and competed in one goal games for the last five games of the regular season. The Thunder last won in a one goal game on Mar. 28 at Idaho in a 3-2 win. Matt Reber had the game winning goal in the third period.

HOME COOKING

The Stockton Thunder finished with a record of 14-7-1 in the last 22 home games this season, aiding in a clinch of the 5th seed in the Western Conference. They were 8-5-3 in one goal games at home and also nearly posted unbeatable records when securing a lead with a 10-1-0 mark when leading after one period and a 13-0-0 record when leading after two periods at home.

GOAL ORIENTED

Thunder right winger Kevin Baker was signed as a free agent on Aug. 24, 2011 and brings a wealth of offensive accomplishments to the Thunder roster. He was named ECHL Most Valuable Player in 2008-09 and his 57 goals that season were most in the league since 2000-01. He ranks second in ECHL all-time goal scoring (since 2006-07) with 177 goals. On Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield, he collected his first hat trick of the season.

MOST GOALS, ECHL (SINCE 2006-07)

Rank Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1 Wes Goldie AK 474 455 276 179 10

2 Kevin Baker STK 334 363 177 186 15

3 Mark Derlago IDH 281 340 174 166 41

4 Olivier Labelle REA 311 253 134 119 -15

5 Marty Flichel IDH 396 368 132 236 -4

** Statistics include regular season and playoffs

LITTLE DETAILS

Since Jan. 1, Thunder defenseman Mike Little soared to a +21 rating which is tied for the ECHL lead. His +21 rating this season finished as the league leader among all rookies and defensemen. Little was named "Thunder Defenseman of the Year" on Mar. 24. Currently competing in his first full season, Little also registered 30 points (8g-22a) in the final 42 games of the regular season.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

The Thunder has now totaled over 200,000 fans for seven consecutive seasons. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team's franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10. This season, the Thunder welcomed 18 crowds of 6,000 or more to Stockton Arena and drew a season high 9,398 fans on Mar. 3 vs. Alaska. The Thunder is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,916 fans per game.

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