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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Bakersfield Condors

February 5, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


DATE: Tuesday, February 5, 2013

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

SITE: Rabobank Arena

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

NHL AFFILIATES

Stockton Thunder: Edmonton Oilers

Bakersfield Condors: Independent

NEXT HOME GAME

Friday, Feb. 15 vs. Ontario Reign (7:30 p.m.)

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT (presented by Golden Bear Insurance Company, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Coors Light, Blackwell Heating & Air, The Record, KAT Country 103, and FOX 40 News)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder renews a divisional rivalry with the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena on Tuesday. It will be the ninth of 11 meetings between both teams this season and the Thunder has dominated the series with a 6-1-1 record and is guaranteed a winning record this season against the Condors. They carry a record of 35-28-13 against Bakersfield and won in their last meeting 6-3 on Dec. 28 at Rabobank Arena. The game matches Thunder head coach Matt Thomas against Bakersfield counterpart Matt O'Dette - previously a Thunder defenseman, captain and assistant coach from 2008-11. Thomas has the upper hand in the matchup with a lifetime 14-6-1 record.

2012-13 Head to Head Schedule: (6-1-1)

Sat. Oct. 27 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 3

Sun. Oct. 28 Bakersfield 2 at Stockton 3 (OT)

Fri. Nov. 2 Bakersfield 1 at Stockton 6

Fri. Nov. 23 Bakersfield 3 at Stockton 6

Sat. Dec. 1 Bakersfield 5 at Stockton 4 (SO)

Sun. Dec. 9 Stockton 1 at Bakersfield 4

Thur. Dec. 27 Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 2

Fri. Dec. 28 Stockton 6 at Bakersfield 3

Tue. Feb. 5 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Thur. Feb. 21 at Bakersfield 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 17 Bakersfield 4:00 p.m.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

The Thunder is 12-3-3 when leading after one period this season.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 3 - IDH 2 (2/2/13): The Stockton Thunder (24-17-8, 56 points) ripped off three unanswered goals in the second period, enough to hold off the Idaho Steelheads in a 3-2 victory before a sellout crowd of 8,919 at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder closed out a season long seven game homestand with the win during a special "Star Wars Night" promotion with two goals by center Harrison Reed, who capped off a wild five-goal second period by both teams. Forward Justin Maylan also found the back of the net for the Thunder.

IDH 3 - STK 2 (2/1/13 ): David Toews capped off a two goal rally with 42 seconds left, and the Idaho Steelheads (28-11-1-4, 61 points) came back to defeat the Stockton Thunder 3-2 (23-17-8, 54 points) in front of 5,120 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. Center Harrison Reed and forward Maxime Boisclair each tallied a goal and an assist. Defenseman Ryan Constant recorded the 100 th assist of his ECHL career on Reed's goal.

STK 4 - SF 3 (SO) (1/30/13): Goaltender Cody Reichard blanked all three skaters he faced in the shootout, and the Stockton Thunder (23-16-8, 54 points) came back to win a back-and-forth affair over the San Francisco Bulls 4-3 in a shootout in front of 6,497 fans on Wednesday at Stockton Arena. Defenseman Ryan Constant scored in the third period to tie the game, while center Gabriel Levesque and defenseman Tony DeHart added goals as well. Forward Matt Reber contributed with a pair of assists.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

- Garet Hunt is 7 games away from 300 as a member of the Thunder

HOME SWEET HOME

The Thunder has made Stockton Arena ideal for home ice advantage this season with a record of 15-7-3. They recently completed string of eight of the nine games, including seven straight, at home. Below is a look at key figures for the Thunder at home this season:

At home this season, the Thunder has:

- A record of 15-7-3

- Totaled ten games of scoring four goals or more

- Outshot the opposition thirteen times this season

- Posted 18 games of 30 shots on goal or more

- Collected at least one power play goal in thirteen of the last fifteen games

THE ALL-STARS ARE ALIGNED

Thunder center Justin Maylan took part in the ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 23 at Colorado. Maylan represented Stockton well, chipping in with an assist in the second period to help the ECHL All-Stars cruise to a 7-3 win over the Colorado Eagles. The rookie center earned his first trip as a replacement for Toni Rajala on the squad. Originally, the Thunder had Rajala and defenseman Nathan Deck (replaced with Ontario's Chris Huxley) selected to the ECHL All-Star Team in early January. Both are continuing to skate in the American Hockey League with Oklahoma City. Deck was named a starter for the game (currently skating in the AHL with Oklahoma City) with 17 points in 19 games. Rajala's 18 goals were among the ECHL's top five at the time of his selection.

THUNDER IN ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Year Venue Representative

2005-06 Fresno Moreland, Lalonde

2006-07 Idaho Geisler, Dubnyk, Martz, Bodie

2007-08 Stockton Farynuk, Contois, MacMurchy

2008-09 Reading Huddy, Urquhart

2009-10 Ontario Blackwater, D'Alvise

2010-11 Bakersfield Arcobello*

2011-12 N/A N/A**

2012-13 Colorado Maylan

* Named MVP of the All-Star Game

** No All-Star Game hosted

FEEL THE POWER

The Thunder has gone on a power trip, having scored a power play goal in nine of the last ten games while only going two games in the entire month of January without one. With a power play percentage of exactly 20 percent in the last nine games, the Thunder has seen center Harrison Reed benefit most from the recent surge, scoring six power play goals (more than half of the Thunder total) during the stretch.

SAINT GABRIEL

Center Gabriel Levesque continued his hot streak by scoring the opening goal just 30 seconds into the game against San Francisco on Wednesday. Having scored three goals and tallied seven points in the last ten games for the Thunder, Levesque has collected 15 assists and 20 points in 43 games in his second year as a pro (all with Stockton).

NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT

Thunder defenseman Mike Little played in his 100th career ECHL game on Dec. 27 at Bakersfield and helped out offensively with an assist in a 4-2 Thunder win. Little was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team last season and was the first selection in Thunder history. Little also played in his 100th career Thunder game Jan. 9 at Colorado.

JUSTIN TIME

Center Justin Maylan is tied for third in the ECHL in rookie scoring with 39 points this season in 47 games. He collected 12 points in 16 games during the month of December. Maylan has also posted nine multi point games this season.

PLAYING THE REICHARD

Thunder goaltender Cody Reichard became the 11th goaltender in Thunder history to earn the ECHL Goaltender of the Week award when he took the honor on Dec. 11. He followed up with two near misses on monthly awards as well - runner up honors for ECHL Rookie of the Month and ECHL Goaltender of the Month (December) with a 4-1-3 record, 2.19 goals against average and .935 save percentage from Dec. 1-31.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Garet Hunt was named the sixth captain in Thunder history on Oct. 12, taking the "C" for the first time in his career for full-time duty. Hunt served as an alternate captain for the Thunder last season and has helped guide the team to the playoffs for four straight seasons since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. Hunt played in the 300th game of his professional career against Utah on Sunday and is the Thunder all-time leader with 293 games played.

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