Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Fresno Falcons

December 19, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:35 p.m. PT
SITE: Selland Arena
RADIO: 1420 KSTN
INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD TO HEAD SERIES
10/18/08 Fresno 3 at Stockton 2
11/14/08 Stockton 4 at Fresno 5 (SO)
11/29/08 Fresno 4 at Stockton 2
12/7/08 Stockton 3 at Fresno 4 (OT)
12/16/08 Stockton 3 at Fresno 1
12/19/08 Stockton @ Fresno
12/20/08 Stockton @ Fresno
2/6/08 Stockton vs. Fresno
2/7/08 Stockton vs. Fresno
3/20/08 Stockton vs. Fresno

MILESTONE TRACKER

o Mike Lalonde is 2 points away from surpassing Nathan Martz as the Thunder career scoring leader
o Ryan MacMurchy is 1 game away from 100 in his professional career
o Cleve Kinley is 1 game away from 100 in his professional career
o Cory Urquhart is 15 goals away from 100 in his ECHL career
o Craig Valette is 14 points away from 100 in his professional career

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

Thunder faces their Pacific Division rival Fresno Falcons in the second of three consecutive times this week, marking the 6th meeting between the clubs in 2008-09. The Thunder is 8-20-6 lifetime against the Falcons and is 1-0-2 at Selland Arena this season. The teams last met on Dec. 16 when the Thunder defeated Fresno 3-1. Cory Urquhart leads the Thunder in scoring vs. Fresno this season with 6 points (1g-5a) in 4 games.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

12/16/08 - STK 3 at FRE 1: Rookie Ryan Huddy scored two goals and goaltender Bryan Pitton made 28 saves to lift the Thunder to a 3-1 victory over the Fresno Falcons before a crowd of 2,244 at Selland Arena on Tuesday night. The Thunder, who captured their first win in the head-to-head season series and first ever at Selland Arena, were supported by a goal from veteran Craig Valette in his return to the Thunder lineup. Stockton finished 1-for-5 on the power-play. It was the first victory for the Thunder on a season-long eight-game road trip.

12/13/08 - STK 3 at UTA 5: The Utah Grizzlies rallied for four goals over the final 21 minutes of play, highlighted by Evan Kotsopoulos' shorthanded goal in the third period to edge the Thunder in a 5-3 win before a crowd of 3,748 at The E-Center. The loss stretches the Thunder's winless streak to four consecutive games, who fell to 0-2-1 on a season-long eight game road trip and received a goal each by Mike Lalonde, Brandon Scero and Ryan Huddy. Rookie goaltender Andrew Perugini made 34 saves in the losing cause while counterpart Michael Mole stopped 24 shots.

12/12/08 - STK 2 at UTA 4: The Utah Grizzlies rallied for two goals in a span of 1:08 in the third period and goaltender Michael Mole made 38 saves to help send the Thunder to a 4-2 defeat, in front of 3,715 at The E-Center on Friday. James Sixsmith registered a game-high three assists while Ryan Kinasewich tallied two points (1g-1a) for Utah. The Thunder received a two-goal effort from Ryan Huddy in his first game back from the American Hockey League.

STEP UP TO THE MIKE

Returning to the lineup this season is left wing Mike Lalonde, who is the Thunder all-time leading goal scorer with 59 goals. Selected as the first player in Thunder history to the ECHL All-Star Game (2006), Lalonde led the ECHL with 308 shots and paced the Thunder with 29 goals as a rookie in 2005-06. Lalonde spent last season with Tilburg of the Netherlands League, guiding his team to the Dutch Cup and scoring 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games.



ECHL Stories from December 19, 2008


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