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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Bakersfield Condors

February 24, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME PREVIEW: STOCKTON THUNDER at BAKERSFIELD CONDORS

DATE: Friday, February 24, 2012

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

SITE: Rabobank Arena

RADIO: 1280 AM KWSX/StocktonThunder.com (AmericaOne)

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks

Bakersfield Condors: Independent

NEXT HOME GAME

Sunday, Feb. 26 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 4:00 p.m.

YOUTH GOLD REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY (presented by Pepsi, Financial Center Credit Union, and KAT Country 103)

FAMILY DAY (presented by Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and 99.3 KJOY)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder visits the Bakersfield Condors for the ninth of 13 meetings tonight at Rabobank Arena, also starting a three game weekend series. The Thunder will visit the Condors for the final time of the regular season on Saturday. On Sunday, the teams will meet at Stockton Arena to conclude three games in three days. The Thunder last faced Bakersfield on Feb. 1 and defeated the Condors 4-1 at Rabobank Arena. The Thunder is 6-2-0 against Bakersfield and is 5-1-0 at Rabobank Arena this season.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 6-2-0)

Tue. Nov. 15 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 2

Fri. Dec. 9 Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 1

Sat. Dec. 10 Bakersfield 6 at Stockton 9

Sun. Dec. 11 Bakersfield 5 at Stockton 2

Mon. Dec. 26 Stockton 2 at Bakersfield 3

Fri. Jan. 6, 2012 Stockton 1 at Bakersfield 0

Sat. Jan. 7 Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 2 (SO)

Wed. Feb. 1 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 1

Fri. Feb. 24 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

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

Sun. Feb. 26 Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 23 Bakersfield 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 24 Bakersfield 7:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:

STK 4 - BAK 1 (2/1/12): Goaltender Olivier Roy earned a career high 55 saves and Chris Doyle scored a pair of goals to lead a wire to wire effort by the Stockton Thunder (22-18-4, 48 points), dispatching the Bakersfield Condors in a 4-1 victory at Rabobank Arena. Roy came one save shy of Jake Moreland's all time Thunder single game save record, stopping all 38 shots he faced through two periods. The Thunder won their fourth game in a row - a season high - and jumped to one point back of Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 3 - COL 1 (2/19/12): Center Chris D'Alvise broke a 1-1 tie in the third period with a highlight reel goal and goaltender Olivier Roy made 32 saves to lift the Stockton Thunder (26-21-5, 57 points) to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles before 5,545 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder extended its torrid pace at home to a 9-1-1 run in the last 11 games and benefited from additional goals by Matt Foy - who put up a spectacular goal of his own in the second period - and an empty netter by Kevin Baker. Stockton also closed the gap to four points behind Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference.

STK 4 - COL 2 (2/18/12): Goaltender Olivier Roy stopped 35 shots and the Stockton Thunder (25-21-5, 55 points) used three unanswered goals to topple the Colorado Eagles in a 4-2 victory, before a crowd of 6,608 at Stockton Arena. The Thunder improved to 8-1-1 in the last ten home games and never trailed in the game, using goals from Max Campbell, Chris Doyle, Mike Little and Jordan Fulton for the win. Their lead for sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference was extended to three points over Idaho.

STK 3 - IDH 2 (2/17/12): Right wing Matt Foy and defenseman Ryan Lowery each scored a goal and added an assist to help the Stockton Thunder (24-21-5, 53 points) sink the Idaho Steelheads in a 3-2 victory before 5,039 fans at Stockton Arena. The Thunder outshot Idaho 38-20, never trailed in the game and improved to 7-1-1 in the last nine home games, running its record to 4-3-1 in the season series over Idaho. Thunder rookie goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, making his first return to action since Dec. 26, boosted his record to 9-5-0 with 18 saves. The win put the Thunder back into sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference with 21 games to play.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 3 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

- Kevin Baker is 16 goals away from 200 in his professional career

- Jody Pederson is 8 games away from 100 in his professional career

- Jordan Fulton is 8 games away from 100 in his Thunder career

MILESTONE WELCOME MATT

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas needs just three wins to become the eighth coach in ECHL history to reach the 300 win plateau in his career. Thomas is currently in his fourth season as Thunder head coach and has never missed the playoffs since earning his first position with the Fresno Falcons in 2005-06. His 118 wins stand as the all time leader in Thunder career coaching wins.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

This season, the Thunder has recorded a record of 7-1-1 when leading after one period on the road. Stockton's most recent road win came on Feb. 1 at Bakersfield, when the Thunder held a 1-0 advantage after one period and raced out to scoring four unanswered goals.

GOAL ORIENTED

Thunder right winger Kevin Baker was signed as a free agent on Aug. 24 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 third in ECHL all-time goal scoring (since 2006-07) with 172 goals. On Dec. 10 vs. Bakersfield, he collected his first hat trick of the season.

MOST GOALS, ECHL (SINCE 2006-07) (as of Feb. 23)

Rank Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1 Wes Goldie AK 458 445 269 176 3

2 Mark Derlago IDH 281 340 174 166 41

3 Kevin Baker STK 318 352 172 180 17

4 Olivier Labelle REA 295 243 132 111 -16

5 Chad Painchaud CHI 338 315 131 184 -19

** Statistics include regular season and playoffs

HUNTING DOWN A MILESTONE

Thunder left winger Garet Hunt has surpassed Mark Adamek as the club's career leader in games played. Hunt is in his fourth season as a member of the Thunder and last season, was named the team's "Unsung Hero" and "Fan Favorite." This season, he was named alternate captain on Oct. 13. He played in his 200th career game with the Thunder on Dec. 16 vs. Idaho.

ALL-TIME THUNDER GAMES PLAYED

Player GP

1. Garet Hunt 224

2. Mark Adamek 186

3. Adam Huxley 183

4. Mike Lalonde 182

5. Daryl Marcoux 166

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN

An exclusive club, the Thunder averaged over 6,000 fans per game and drew over 200,000 fans for the sixth straight year in 2010-11, ranking second in ECHL in attendance with 6,382 fans per game. Stockton has 17 sellouts in the team's franchise history. They welcomed 12 crowds of 7,000 or more at Stockton Arena last season and had its highest attendance since 2007-08, a six percent increase from 2009-10. This season, the Thunder has welcome 12 crowds of 6,000 or more to Stockton Arena and drew a season high 9,012 fans on Nov. 5 vs. Utah. The Thunder is third in ECHL attendance with an average of 5,724 fans per game.

HOME COOKING

The Thunder has parlayed a record of 9-1-1 in the last 11 home games, most recently defeating Colorado 3-1 on Sunday at Stockton Arena. Taking advantage of leads early and in the middle of the game, the Thunder has never lost when holding a lead after the first period (9-0-0) and second period (10-0-0). The Thunder has also outshot their opponents in 19 of 25 home games.

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