Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Bakersfield Condors

Published on December 26, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder, returning from the holiday break, continue a five-game road trip and visit Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena. Sunday's game is the sixth of 11 meetings between both clubs and the last time both teams met, Bakersfield defeated Stockton, 5-2 at Stockton Arena on Dec. 10. Both teams will meet again on Monday night in Bakersfield. The Thunder is 20-18-11 lifetime against the Condors through six seasons and is 3-1-1 in the head-to-head series. Stockton looks to break a 0-4-0 streak on the road and is 0-1-1 this season at Rabobank Arena.

LAST THREE GAMES:

AK 5 - STK 2 (12/18/10): Maxime Tanguay collected a pair of assists, including one on the game-winner to Jared Stewart in the second period to help the Alaska Aces defeat the Thunder, 5-2, before 4,202 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who were swept in a three-game series for the first time all season, battled back twice to tie the game in the first and second period on a power-play goal from Ryan Constant, and Craig Valette's first goal since coming back to the active roster. Gerald Coleman won in net with 31 saves and topping Bryan Pitton's 22 stops, who took the defeat.

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.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 3-1-1)

Fri. Oct. 29 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 5 (SO)

Fri. Nov. 5 Bakersfield 0 at Stockton 7

Sat. Nov. 6 Bakersfield 2 at Stockton 4

Sun. Nov. 7 Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 5

Fri. Dec. 10 at Bakersfield 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 26 at Bakersfield 6:00 p.m.

Mon. Dec. 27 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 12 Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 22 Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 25 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 26 at Bakersfield Noon

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

Aaron Clarke is 11 assists away from 100 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 8 points away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 22 games away from 300 in his professional career

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

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

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).

CLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC

Forward Fraser Clair picked up a goal in last Friday' game at Alaska had a season-high six-game scoring streak snapped on Dec. 18, scoring 11 points (4g-7a) during the stretch. 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) * 309

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 the last game, at Alaska on Dec. 18 extended the Thunder's streak to nine straight games with a power-play goal, the longest for the entire season. Stockton was 1-of-5 on the power-play and Ryan Constant scored the power-play goal in the first period. Stockton ranks sixth in the ECHL with a 19.3 percent rate on the power-play.

SHOOTOUT AT OK CORRAL

The Thunder leads the ECHL with four shootout wins and 14 points in overtime. The 4-2 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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