Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Alaska Aces

Published on December 18, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder, entering tonight's game tied for first place in the Pacific Division, visit the Alaska Aces to finish a three-game series and continue five-game road trip at Sullivan Arena. The last time both teams met, Alaska defeated the Thunder, 3-1 at Sullivan Arena on Friday. The Thunder was 5-1-4 in the head-to-head series against the Aces last year and went 3-1-1 at Sullivan Arena. Tonight's game is the last the Thunder will play before the holiday break, who are 6-3-2 on the road this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

AK 3 - STK 1 (12/17/10): Gerald Coleman's 25 saves and back-to-back goals by Alex Dzielski and Wes Goldie were enough for the Alaska Aces to defeat the Stockton Thunder, 3-1, before a crowd of 4,033 at Sullivan Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who maintained a tie for first place in the Pacific Division despite the loss, received its only goal from Fraser Clair. Scott Howes added a first period goal while Garrett Zemlak took the loss with 35 saves, additionally stopping 14 of the first 15 shots he saw in the opening 20 minutes.

AK 8 - STK 3 (12/15/10): Veteran Wes Goldie collected a hat trick, Brian Swanson scored twice and the Alaska Aces used five power-play goals to defeat the Thunder, 8-3, before 3,016 fans at Sullivan Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who took just their second road defeat in regulation this year (6-2-2), lost an early 1-0 lead which turned into a four-goal deficit in the first period, when the Aces scored four times on a five-minute major power-play. Mark Arcobello scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Thunder in scoring. Anthony Aiello added a power-play goal in the third period. Gerald Coleman picked up the win for Alaska with 29 saves in net.

STK 3 - UTA 2 (12/11/10): Goaltender Garrett Zemlak earned his first win in four starts with 27 saves, boosting the Thunder to a 3-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies before 8,330 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Thunder, who moved to a first place tie in the Western Conference with Utah and Las Vegas, improved to 6-4-2 at home and won in their final home game before the Dec. 25 holiday break. They scored the first three goals of the game with help from Marcus Watson, Bretton Cameron and Fraser Clair, who had the game-winner in the second period.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 0-2-0)

Wed. Dec. 15 Stockton 3 at Alaska 8

Fri. Dec. 17 Stockton 1 at Alaska 3

Sat. Dec. 18 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 11 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 12 at Alaska 8:15 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 13 at Alaska 6:05 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 4 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 5 Alaska 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 6 Alaska 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

Aaron Clarke is 12 assists away from 100 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 9 points away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 23 games away from 300 in his professional career

Jim McKenzie is 17 games away from 200 in his professional career

FIRST ROUND RECAP: THUNDER FLUSHES ACES

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 2010 National Conference Quarterfinals ‚¬Â¦ the Thunder became the first team in ECHL history to eliminate Alaska in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs ‚¬Â¦ Kelly Czuy had three straight multi-point games and Oren Eizenman led the Thunder series scoring with nine assists ‚¬Â¦ 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 ‚¬Â¦ 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 ‚¬Â¦ 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 ‚¬Â¦ the Thunder, who took a 2-1 series lead, scored five times in a span of 6:42 in the third period ‚¬Â¦ the Thunder erased two separate two-goal deficits in the first period and scored six unanswered goals, led by James Bates' four points (1g-3a) and a pair of goals by Matt Robinson, eliminating Alaska in a 8-5 victory in Game 4 at Stockton Arena ‚¬Â¦ ten different Thunder players hit the scoresheet and Andrew Perugini made 40 saves in net.

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD

The Thunder broke a club record on Saturday, Nov. 20 in a 2-1 shootout loss to Idaho for a 12-game unbeaten streak in regulation (8-0-4). The previous standard was set with an 11-0-0 run in 2006-07. The Thunder began the streak with a 5-4 overtime loss to Ontario on Oct. 16 at Stockton Arena and tied the mark on Nov. 18, in a 3-2 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads.

THUNDER ANSWERS ROAD RULES CHALLENGE

Despite a 5-3 loss at Bakersfield last Friday, the Thunder had a 6-0-2 streak on the road, finishing as the last remaining team in the ECHL yet to lose a game in regulation on the road before Friday. Additionally, the streak to start the season broke the mark of five straight games without a loss in regulation (5-0-0), set back in 2006-07 (Mar. 17-31).

CLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC

Forward Fraser Clair picked up a goal in last night's game at Alaska, extending his scoring streak to six straight games while scoring 11 points (4g-7a). Clair was signed by the Thunder as a free agent on Sept. 21, 2010 and had 14 goals and 37 points (14g-23a) in 36 games for Bolzano HC in Italy last season. He set ECHL career-highs with Fresno in 2005-06, scoring 25 goals, 21 assists and 46 points in 58 games.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas ranks third in wins in the last decade in the ECHL (among active coaches), entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conference Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) * 357

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 308

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 245

* Currently ECHL active

POWER SURGE

A power-play goal in last night's game at Alaska extended the Thunder's streak to eight straight games with a power-play goal, the longest for the entire season. Stockton was 1-of-4 on the power-play and Fraser Clair scored the power-play goal in the first period. Stockton ranks sixth in the ECHL with a 19.2 percent rate on the power-play.

SHOOT(OUT) TO THRILL

The Thunder lead the ECHL with three shootout wins and 10 points in overtime. The 3-2 record in shootouts surpasses Stockton's 1-8 record in shootouts last season and the Thunder are led by Chris Lawrence's .500 mark (2-of-4) in shootouts, among active players. Bryan Pitton, who has stopped 10 of 14 shots (.714 pct), is tied for the ECHL lead with two shootout wins.

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