Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Bakersfield Condors

Published on February 25, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


GAME PREVIEW: STOCKTON THUNDER at BAKERSFIELD CONDORS

DATE: Saturday, February 25, 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 tenth of 13 meetings tonight at Rabobank Arena, also continuing a three game weekend series. The Thunder will also visit the Condors for the final time of the regular season tonight. On Sunday, the teams will meet at Stockton Arena to conclude three games in three days. The Thunder last faced Bakersfield last night and defeated the Condors, 4-3 in a shootout at Rabobank Arena. The Thunder is 7-2-0 against Bakersfield and is 6-1-0 at Rabobank Arena this season.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder: 7-2-0)

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 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 3 (SO)

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 THREE GAMES:

STK 4 - BAK 3 (SO) (2/24/12): Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk made 34 saves and Kevin Baker scored a goal in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Stockton Thunder (27-21-5, 59 points) to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 5,926 fans at Rabobank Arena on Friday. Aiding from an offensive effort that included goal scoring contributions from Matt Foy, Colten Hayes and Ian O'Connor, the Thunder moved back to four points behind Colorado for fourth place in the Western Conference and reduced its magic number to 12 to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth.

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.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Matt Thomas is 2 wins away from 300 in his professional coaching career

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

- Jody Pederson is 7 games away from 100 in his professional career

- Jordan Fulton is 7 games away from 100 in his Thunder career

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

This season, the Thunder has boasted a record of 15-7-3 when playing in the second game of a "back to back" or in a "three game in three day" scenario. The last Thunder win in that situation came on Sunday, when they defeated Colorado, 3-1 at Stockton Arena to complete a three game win streak during the weekend.

MILESTONE WELCOME MATT

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas needs just two 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 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2004-05. His 119 wins stand as the all time leader in Thunder career coaching wins.

ROAD RULES

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 last night at Bakersfield, when the Thunder trailed 1-0 after the first period but preserved a 4-3 shootout win with the help of back to back goals in the second period.

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)

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 319 352 172 180 16

4 Olivier Labelle REA 296 244 132 112 -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 225

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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