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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Alaska Aces

February 13, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


Stockton Thunder concludes a visit to the Alaska Aces for a three-game series at Sullivan Arena. The last time both teams met, Alaska defeated the Thunder in overtime, 4-3 at Sullivan Arena on Feb. 12. Both teams will meet nine times this season and after Sunday ‚¬â„¢s game, for the last three games of the series at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 0-4-1 in the series this season against Alaska. The Thunder is 14-9-4 against teams from the Mountain Division.

LAST THREE GAMES:

AK 4 ‚¬" STK 3 (OT) (2/12/11): Kory Falite capped off a two-goal effort with a game-winning goal, with 2:45 left in sudden death overtime, to lift the Alaska Aces to a 4-3 overtime win over the Thunder before 4,332 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder were able to force overtime on a third period goal from former Aces forward Jarrett Konkle, spelling additional goals from Chris Lawrence and Jordan Fulton. Alaska goaltender Gerald Coleman made 25 stops, enough to pick up the win.

AK 5 ‚¬" STK 2 (2/11/11): Adam Courchaine made 28 saves and Chris Langkow carried an offense with one goal and two assists, helping lead the Alaska Aces past the Stockton Thunder (24-15-7, 55 points), 5-2, before 4,038 fans at Sullivan Arena. The Thunder, who dropped its fourth straight loss in the head-to-head series with Alaska and fell to 0-5-1 in the last six games in Anchorage, were anchored by Dan Kissel ‚¬â„¢s two points (1g-1a) in his Aces debut. Jarrett Konkle, in his return to Sullivan Arena for the first time since suiting up for the Aces, chipped in with a goal along with Chris Lawrence in the losing effort. Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton took the loss with 22 saves.

STK 4 ‚¬" ONT 2 (2/9/11): Returning in his ECHL season debut after starting the year in Europe, Kelly Czuy led the offense with two goals and added an assist to lift the Stockton Thunder (24-14-7, 55 points) to a 4-2 victory over the Ontario Reign, before an announced crowd of 6,764 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who improved to 6-1-1 this season over their division rival, sunk a 1-0 deficit with three goals in the second period, sparked by Czuy ‚¬â„¢s first goal at 1:21. Craig Valette added his fourth goal of the season and Jarrett Konkle buried the eventual game-winner. Gimblett chipped in with two assist, on both Czuy goals. Goaltender Bryan Pitton earned his 16th win of the season with 35 saves.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 0-4-1)

Wed. Dec. 15 Stockton 3 at Alaska 8

Fri. Dec. 17 Stockton 1 at Alaska 3

Sat. Dec. 18 Stockton 2 at Alaska 5

Fri. Feb. 11 Stockton 2 at Alaska 5

Sat. Feb. 12 Stockton 3 at Alaska 4 (OT)

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:

· Ryan Constant is 8 games away from 300 in his professional career

· Kelly Czuy is 3 games away from 200 in his professional career

· Kelly Czuy is 8 points away from 100 in his professional career

· Bryan Pitton is 4 games away from 100 in his professional career

SHOOT TO THRILL

The Thunder rank third in average shots per game in the ECHL with 34.0, topped only by Trenton ‚¬â„¢s average of 35.7 and Toledo ‚¬â„¢s, of 34.1. There have been nine different occasions that Stockton has fired over 40 shots or more this season, and Wednesday ‚¬â„¢s game (37-35, vs. Ontario) was the first time they were outshot by an opponent in 14 games, dating back to Jan. 7 at Victoria (24-34 in 4-2 defeat). Right winger Fraser Clair leads the Thunder individually with 166 shots.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

The Thunder also rank second in least shots allowed per game in the ECHL with 27.9, topped only by Alaska ‚¬â„¢s average of 24.7. Stockton has held an opponent to under 30 shots on goal in six of the last eight games and they allowed a season-low 13 shots to Las Vegas on Nov. 24 (1-0 defeat).

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

A whopping crowd of 9,482 piled into Stockton Arena on Jan. 22 for the ‚¬Å“Teddy Bear Toss ‚¬Â game, the largest crowd at Stockton Arena this season and the fourth crowd over 9,000 in the event ‚¬â„¢s history. It helped keep the Thunder in second for ECHL attendance, attracting an average of 6,224 fans per game, through 21 home games. Stockton has 15 sellouts in the team's franchise history and in 2008-09, the Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Thunder capped the month of January with a record of 10-5-1, ending the first month of the new year in second place in the Pacific Division. In total, the Thunder had two weekend, three-game series sweeps (Utah and Ontario) and won eight consecutive games, their longest win streak of the season (Jan. 8-23).Stockton scored 51 goals, averaging 3.2 per game. Goaltender Bryan Pitton ran a record of 7-2-1 during the month, returning from Oklahoma City of the AHL.

CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER

The Thunder enters the game with 75 major penalties, leading the ECHL. Additionally, their average of 21.6 penalty minutes ranks fourth in the ECHL. Individually, the Thunder is led by Garet Hunt, who has 128 penalty minutes. Eight players on the Thunder have registered 60 penalty minutes or more this season.

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 Idaho.

THUNDER ANSWERS ROAD RULES CHALLENGE

The Thunder owned a 6-0-2 streak on the road to begin the season, finishing as the last remaining team in the ECHL yet to lose a game in regulation on the road. 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). The Thunder are 5-2-1 in the last eight road 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) * 364

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 315

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

4. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 257

5. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

* Currently ECHL active

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