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Game Preview (Game 4): Stockton Thunder (#5) Vs. Alaska Aces (#1)

April 20, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME: Stockton Thunder (#5) vs. Alaska Aces (#1)

DATE: Friday, April 20, 2012

TIME: 7:30 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

Alaska Aces: St. Louis Blues

HOME GAME PROMOTIONAL NOTES

National Anthem Singer: Heather

Public Address Announcer: Mike McKnight

In Arena Emcee: DJ Walker

NEXT HOME GAME

Saturday, April 21 vs. Alaska Aces - 7:30 p.m.

KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS, 2ND ROUND (WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL) - GAME 5

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The fifth seeded Thunder will battle in Game 4 the Western Conference Semifinal against the defending Kelly Cup champion and #1 seed Alaska Aces, continuing a best of seven series that follows a "2-3-2" format. The matchup is the second time the Thunder and Aces will meet in the playoffs. The Thunder is making an appearance in the second round of the playoffs for the third time in four seasons and looks to advance to the Conference Final for the second time in club history (2010). Stockton last met Alaska in the playoffs back in the 2010 National Conference Quarterfinal (first round), a best of five series won by Stockton, 3-1. Alaska leads the series, 2-1 and defeated the Thunder, 4-0 in game three on Wednesday in Stockton.

STOCKTON VS. ALASKA - WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS (all times listed PT)

(Alaska leads series, 2-1)

Game 1: Stockton 1 at Alaska 2

Game 2: Stockton 3 at Alaska 2 (OT)

Game 3: Alaska 4 at Stockton 0

Game 4: Alaska at Stockton - Friday, April 20 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 5: Alaska at Stockton - Saturday, April 21 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)

Game 6: Stockton at Alaska - Tuesday, April 24 - 8:15 p.m. (Sullivan Arena) *

Game 7: Stockton at Alaska - Wednesday, April 25 - 8:15 p.m. (Sullivan Arena) *

*If necessary

(GAME 1): AK 2 - STK 1 (4-13-12): Garry Nunn broke a 1-1 tie with 3:08 remaining in regulation for the game winning goal, helping the Alaska Aces rally and defeat the Stockton Thunder, 2-1 in game one of the Western Conference Semifinal before 4,872 fans at Sullivan Arena on Friday. The Thunder dropped its first postseason loss after building a 1-0 lead in the third period on a goal by Greg Squires. Alaska leveled the score on key game tying goal by Dan Kissel, paving the way for Nunn's game winner. The Thunder, who outshot Alaska 26-25, will look to rebound in game two on Saturday at Anchorage.

(GAME 2): STK 3 - AK 2 (OT) (4-14-12): Chris D'Alvise scored off the rush with 10:41 left in sudden death overtime to cap a heroic comeback by the Stockton Thunder in a 3-2 victory over the Alaska Aces in game two of the Western Conference Semifinal before 5,561 fans at Sullivan Arena. The Thunder tied the best of seven series, 1-1 and swiped home ice advantage with the next three games scheduled at Stockton Arena. D'Alvise's overtime goal was his second of the postseason and the Thunder won their sixth consecutive playoff game in overtime. Max Campbell and Kevin Baker rallied Stockton out of a 2-0 deficit with back to back goals in the second period.

(GAME 3): AK 4 - STK 0 (4-18-12): Gerald Coleman made 22 saves for his fourth career postseason shutout, helping the Alaska Aces send the Stockton Thunder to a 4-0 defeat in game three of the Western Conference Semifinal at Stockton Arena on Wednesday. The Thunder found difficulty getting through to Coleman in the final two periods and were outshot for the game, 40-22. Their most pressure came on 13 shots in the opening period. The game was played closely with Alaska clinging to just a 1-0 lead through two periods before breaking out with three goals in the final 20 minutes.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 5-5-0)

Wed. Nov. 23 Alaska 4 at Stockton 1

Thur. Jan. 12 Stockton 0 at Alaska 3

Fri. Jan. 13 Stockton 1 at Alaska 3

Sat. Jan. 14 Stockton 2 at Alaska 4

Fri. Jan. 27 Alaska 3 at Stockton 6

Sat. Jan. 28 Alaska 1 at Stockton 4

Sun. Jan. 29 Alaska 1 at Stockton 2

Fri. Mar. 2 Alaska 4 at Stockton 2

Sat. Mar.3 Alaska 0 at Stockton 4

Sun. Mar. 4 Alaska 3 at Stockton 4 (SO)

SEASON SERIES IN REVIEW :

The Thunder finished 5-5-0 against Alaska this season and won five of the last six meetings ... Alaska opened the series with a 4-1 win at Stockton on Nov. 23 behind Adam Courchaine's 41 saves ... Alaska then swept the Thunder in a three game series at Sullivan Arena from Jan. 12-14 ... Stockton turned the tables and handed the Aces a three game sweep at Stockton Arena from Jan. 27-29 and the Thunder outscored Alaska, 12-5 in the three wins, becoming the first team to sweep Alaska in a three game series in 2011-12 ... after the Thunder dropped a 4-2 loss to Alaska on Mar. 2, they came back to rout the Aces in a 4-0 win before a season high crowd of 9,398 at Stockton Arena and goaltender Olivier Roy broke a Thunder record with his fourth shutout of the season ... Stockton took the series finale in a 4-3 shootout win the next day, helping head coach Matt Thomas become the eighth coach in ECHL history to reach the 300 win plateau.

FIRST ROUND SERIES RECAP (Stockton defeats Colorado, 3-0):

(GAME 1) STK 3 - COL 1 (4-3-12): Goaltender Olivier Roy made 35 saves in his postseason debut and the Stockton Thunder never trailed en route to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal at Stockton Arena on Tuesday. Garet Hunt, Jesse Fratkin and Chris D'Alvise scored in a three unanswered goal run for Stockton, who improved to 5-4 lifetime in Game 1 scenarios. Colorado, who lost in their ECHL playoff debut, earned its only goal on a third period marker from Aaron Slattengren.

(GAME 2) STK 3 - COL 2 (OT) (4-4-12): Chris D'Alvise completed a come from behind rally for the Stockton Thunder with a game winning goal just 17 seconds into sudden death overtime in a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Eagles in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal at Stockton Arena on Wednesday. The Thunder, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the first two minutes of the game, pushed the Eagles to the brink of elimination with a 2-0 lead in the best of five series and tied the game with under four minutes remaining in regulation on Max Campbell's second of two goals.

(GAME 3): STK 4 - COL 2 (4-6-12): Max Campbell scored two goals, including the game winner in the second period to lift the Stockton Thunder to a 4-2 victory, eliminating the Colorado Eagles in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal before a sellout crowd of 5,289 at Budweiser Events Center. The Thunder earned a sweep for the first time in club history. Goaltender Olivier Roy stopped 28 shots en route to victory and the Thunder never trailed, earning additional offense on goals from Matt Foy and Jordan Fulton.

LAST TIME OUT - PLAYOFFS: THUNDER FLUSHES ACES

IN A NUTSHELL: The Thunder advanced to the second round for the second straight season, defeating the Alaska Aces, 3-1 in the best-of-five series in the National Conference Quarterfinals ... the Thunder became the first team in ECHL history to eliminate Alaska in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs ... Kelly Czuy had three straight multi-point games and Oren Eizenman led the Thunder series scoring with nine assists ... Defenseman B.J. Crum scored back-to-back goals, including the game-winner with 2:51 left in regulation to snap a 3-3 tie and help the Aces rally in a third period comeback, defeating the Thunder, 4-3 in Game 1 at Wasilla, Alaska ... a four goal effort in the third period, stamping a string of three unanswered goals, helped the Stockton Thunder sink the host the Alaska Aces in a 5-2 victory in Game 2 - J.F. Caudron had the game-winning goal ... All-star center Chris D'Alvise scored two goals and added an assist, Andrew Perugini made 39 saves and the Stockton Thunder scored a playoff club record five goals in the third period, en route to a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Alaska Aces in Game 3 at Stockton Arena ... the Thunder, who took a 2-1 series lead, scored five times in a span of 6:42 in the third period ... the Thunder erased two separate two-goal deficits in the first period and scored six unanswered goals, eliminating Alaska in a 8-5 victory in Game 4 at Stockton Arena ... ten different Thunder players hit the scoresheet and Andrew Perugini made 40 saves in net.

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 in the playoffs in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal, defeating Alaska 3-2 in sudden death overtime on a Chris D'Alvise goal with 10:41 remaining.

OVERTIME HEROICS

Chris D'Alvise's game winning goal (Game 2, Western Conference Semifinal vs. Alaska) in sudden death overtime was the seventh overtime playoff victory in Thunder history, marking the sixth consecutive victory in sudden death. Since Matt Thomas took over as Thunder head coach in 2008-09, Stockton is 7-1 in sudden death overtime in the playoffs. D'Alvise has scored the winners in both overtime games for Stockton this postseason.

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 178 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 477 458 277 181 14

2 Kevin Baker STK 340 368 178 190 14

3 Mark Derlago IDH 281 340 174 166 41

4 Olivier Labelle REA 316 255 135 120 -16

5 Marty Flichel IDH 404 375 134 241 -7

** Statistics include regular season and playoffs

GAME FOUR NOTES

The Thunder is 5-3 all time in game four of the playoffs. Stockton has won four of the last six scenarios in game four and in their last win, they defeated Idaho, 7-2 at Stockton Arena in the 2010 Conference Finals.

GAME FOUR

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

Apr. 15, 2007 NQF Idaho Stockton Arena W, 3-2 - Dubnyk/Silverthorn Tim Sestito

Apr. 18, 2008 NQF Las Vegas Stockton Arena L, 3-4 (OT) 19:40 Boron/Lalande Adam Cracknell

Apr. 17, 2009 PSF Ontario Stockton Arena W, 5-4 (OT) 2:28 Van Buskirk/Zatkoff James Bates

May 2, 2009 PF Las Vegas Stockton Arena L, 2-3 (OT) 0:28 Van Buskirk/DeCaro Mick Lawrence

Apr. 10, 2010 NQF Alaska Stockton Arena W, 8-5 * - Perugini/Sauer-REID Garet Hunt

Apr. 23, 2010 NSF Bakersfield Stockton Arena W, 6-2 - Perugini/Levasseur Bryan Young

May 7, 2010 NCF Idaho Stockton Arena W, 7-2 - Pitton/BACHMAN-Beauchemin Jason Pitton

Apr. 10, 2011 WQF Utah Stockton Arena L, 0-5 - PITTON-Sexsmith/Lamoureux Hugo Carpentier

All-time game four record: 5-3

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