Game Preview (game 5): Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

Published on April 20, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME PREVIEW: Stockton Thunder vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

GAME 5 - National Conference Quarterfinals

FACEOFF: 4:00 p.m. PT

TICKETS: Click here

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN (potentially joined in progress)

BROADCAST (video): click here (B2 Networks)

BROADCAST (audio): click here (B2 Networks)

E-MAIL THE BROADCAST BOOTH: fanmail@stocktonthunder.com

NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL

Game 1: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 2

Game 2: Stockton 4 at Las Vegas 5 (OT)

Game 3: Las Vegas 3 - Stockton 2

Game 4: Las Vegas 4 - Stockton 3 (OT)

Game 5: at Stockton - Sunday, April 20 - 4:00 p.m.

Game 6: at Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 22 - 7:05 p.m. *

Game 7: at Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 23 - 7:05 p.m. *

* If necessary

THUNDER AWARD WINNERS

o Most Valuable Player - Brandon Schwartz

o Best Defenseman - Brian Lee

o Unsung Hero - Mark Adamek

REGULAR SEASON LEADERS

o GOALS - Lance Monych (32)

o ASSISTS - Brandon Schwartz (36)

o POINTS - Monych/Schwartz (52)

o PIM - Adam Huxley (200)

o POWER PLAY GOALS - Monych (12)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The eighth-seeded Thunder face the first-seed Las Vegas Wranglers, trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and need a victory to keep the series alive. A Thunder win will send the series back to Las Vegas for game 6. The matchup features players with first round NHL Entry Draft experience (Ryan O'Marra of the Thunder and Peter Ferraro of the Wranglers) that span 13 years - Ferraro was drafted 24th overall by the New York Rangers in 1992 and O'Marra was drafted 15th overall by the New York Islanders in 2005.

PLAYOFF SERIES RECAP

GAME 1: Rookie Jonas Almtorp's shorthanded goal with 4:19 left in regulation snapped a 2-2 tie, highlighting a four-goal rally in the third period to help lift the eighth-seed Thunder to a stunning 4-2 comeback victory over the first-seed Las Vegas Wranglers in game 1 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before a crowd of 3,442 at Orleans Arena on Friday night. The Thunder scored four goals in the third period comeback with additional tallies coming from Tim O'Connell, Lance Monych and Stephane Goulet. Goaltender Tim Boron made 39 saves for the win in net.

GAME 2: Ryan Donally scored a game-winning goal 28 seconds into sudden-death overtime to help the Las Vegas Wranglers send the Thunder to a 5-4 overtime loss in game 2 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before a crowd of 3,653 at Orleans Arena on Saturday. Brandon Schwartz led the Thunder with a three point effort (2g-1a) and forced overtime in the final minute of regulation as the series was tied 1-1 (best-of-seven). Tim O'Connell, and Jacob Micflikier added goals for the Thunder.

GAME 3: The Las Vegas Wranglers scored two goals in the final 1:15 of regulation to pose an improbable comeback, finished by Aki Seitsonen's shorthanded game-winning goal with 12.8 seconds left to send the Thunder to a 3-2 loss in game 3 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round, in front of a crowd of 5,053 at Stockton Arena on Sunday night. Goaltender Tim Boron made a series-high 44 saves while Ryan O'Marra and Jacob Micflikier scored goals for the Thunder.

GAME 4: Adam Cracknell's game-winning goal with 20 seconds left in the first sudden-death overtime period completed a four-goal rally by the Las Vegas Wranglers, who sent the Thunder to a 4-3 overtime loss in game four of the National Conference Quarterfinals and a 3-1 series deficit (best-of-seven), before a crowd of 5,569 at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder was led by Jacob Micflikier's goal and an assist to pace the offense. Goaltender Tim Boron, making his fourth straight start in the series, set a Thunder playoff record with 48 saves (previous - 46, Devan Dubnyk, 4/13/07 vs. Idaho)

PLAYOFF NOTEWORTHY

4 of 5 games in the series have been decided by one goal ... in fact, 7 of the last 9 playoff games for the Thunder have been decided by one goal ... the Thunder has been invovled in 4 overtime playoff games, with 3 at Stockton Arena ... rookie Jacob Micflikier leads the Thunder with seven points (3g-4a) in the playoffs and has 3 straight multi-point games.

FIRST THING'S FIRST

Of the 27 wins the Thunder has accumulated this season, 23 have come when the Thunder scores the first goal of the game. The Thunder finished 23-13-2 when scoring the first goal of the game. Lance Monych led the Thunder with nine "first goals."

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"The key for us is to realize that we can only worry about (today) and take care of that first. We've proven we can beat them and have to take it one at a time."

- Thunder captain Brad Farynuk, The Record, 4/20/08 on trying to overcome a 3-1 series deficit

REGIONAL COINCIDENCE

The NHL's San Jose Sharks are currently in the midst of a first round Stanley Cup Playoff series with the Calgary Flames, the third time both teams have met in the head-to-head history. The Thunder, located 81 miles east of the Sharks' home turf - HP Pavilion at San Jose - are in the midst of a first round Kelly Cup Playoff series with the Las Vegas Wranglers - the ECHL affiliate of the Flames.

GOAL(TENDING) ORIENTED

Goaltender Tim Boron has provided some of the most prolific goaltending in the Thunder's three-year history, breaking the single-season club record with three shutouts and made a career-high 50 saves against Las Vegas in a 1-0 win at Stockton Arena on January 20. Boron ranked for third in the ECHL with three shutouts and won a CHL Championship last year with the Colorado Eagles as a rookie. Meanwhile, Thunder rookie netminder Glenn Fisher, a fifth round selection (148th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, parlayed his two best months of the season in February and March. Fisher had a season-best 2.52 goals-against-average and .933 save percentage in February and had a.908 save percentage in March. Fisher was a part of college national power Denver (NCAA) and helped guide the Pioneers to the program's second straight national championship (7th overall) in 2004-05.

IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER ...

The Thunder had five wins this season when trailing after two periods, including four on home ice at Stockton Arena. Below is a look at the Thunder comeback wins when trailing through 40 minutes:

DATE OPPONENT W/L/T SCORE AFTER 2 GWG

3/29 Victoria W, 3-2 (so) Trailed 1-2 (team - shootout)

3/7 Idaho W, 3-2 Trailed 1-2 Zanoski

11/28 @Utah W, 4-3 (so) Trailed 1-3 (team - shootout)

11/23 Alaska W, 4-3 Trailed 2-3 Micflikier

11/3 Idaho W, 3-2 Trailed 1-2 Schwartz

Below is a look at Thunder comeback victories in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, spanning the club history:

DATE OPPONENT W/L/T SCORE AFTER 2 GWG

4/11/08 Las Vegas W, 4-2 Trailed 0-1 Almtorp

4/10/07 Idaho W, 4-2 Trailed 1-2 Tim Sestito

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

The Thunder has one player (goaltender Tim Boron) with pro championship experience - Boron was in net for the CHL's Colorado Eagles last season as a rookie. Additionally, two other Thunder players have reached the Kelly Cup Finals. Captain and defenseman Brad Farynuk tied the ECHL lead among defensemen and led all Dayton defensemen with 16 points (4g-12a) in 22 Kelly Cup Playoff games last year, helping guide the Bombers to a Kelly Cup Finals berth. Thunder defenseman Tim O'Connell leads the Thunder with 61 games of professional playoff experience, helping guide the Florida EverBlades to two consecutive berths in the Kelly Cup Finals (2004 and 2005).

Below is a list of the top-5 Thunder players who have the most pro playoff experience in games:

PLAYER GAMES

Tim O'Connell 63

Tim Verbeek 42

Brad Farynuk 26

Brian Lee 17

Joe Dustin 16

THUNDER FANS ASKED TO BLACKOUT LAS VEGAS

All Thunder fans are asked to wear black-colored clothing at all first round Kelly Cup Playoff home games at Stockton Arena, beginning Sunday with game 3 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round at 6:00 p.m. Special-edition black apparel for fans is available, highlighted by "BLACKOUT LAS VEGAS" t-shirts on sale at the Stockton Arena FanAttic and all Stockton Arena merchandise stands, starting at $15. An additional team-issue Stockton Thunder Playoff Long Sleeve Shirt, previously only available to Thunder players, will be on sale to all fans with the slogan "ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL."

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