Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Las Vegas Wranglers

Published on February 27, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder and Las Vegas Wranglers meet for the second of six meetings this season between both teams and continuing the only series at Orleans Arena this season for the Thunder. Both teams met last night for the first time since game seven of last year's second round (Pacific Division Final) of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, won by Las Vegas, 5-1. Through the lifetime series, the Thunder is 7-19-1 against the Wranglers and last season, finished 3-3-0 in the regular season. Last night also marked the first meeting between Thunder head coach, Matt Thomas and his former assistant, Ryan Mougenel, currently in his first season as head coach for Las Vegas.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

LV 5 - STK 2 (2/26/10): Alex Bourret scored a goal and added two assists to help the Las Vegas Wranglers snap a 2-2 tie after the first period with a three-goal second period outburst and send the Stockton Thunder (24-21-8, 56 points) to a 5-2 loss before 4,124 fans at Orleans Arena on Friday night. The loss, capping a game that pitted Thunder head coach Matt Thomas against his former assistant and current Las Vegas head coach, Ryan Mougenel, marked the first time the Thunder had dropped three straight games in regulation since Dec. 16-19 (at Victoria). Oren Eizenman and Matt Robinson each scored for Stockton and Josh Prudden, Jeff Hazelwood, Jerry Pollastrone and Adam Miller also chipped in with a goal for Las Vegas.

UTA 7 - STK 1 (2/24/10): Veteran Lance Galbraith had a hat trick and three assists to tie a single-game Utah Grizzlies record with six points, helping send the Thunder to a 7-1 defeat before 2,348 fans at The E-Center on Wednesday. The Thunder, who dropped the second straight loss in regulation for the first time since Dec. 18-19 (at Victoria), received its only goal of the game from Matt Robinson. Vladimir Nikiforov, Tony Romano, A.J. Perry and Tom May also scored for Utah.

UTA 5 - STK 4 (2/23/10): Veteran Lance Galbraith's power-play goal erased a 4-4 tie and helped the Utah Grizzlies send the Thunder to only their second regulation loss in 11 games, 5-4, before a crowd of 1,962 at The E-Center on Tuesday evening. Utah rode an offensive wave of their top line, as James Sixsmith (1g-3a), Ryan Kinasewich (1g-2a) and A.J. Perry (two assists) combined for nine points between the trio. The Thunder each received a goal from J.F. Caudron, Justin DaCosta, Matt Robinson and Daryl Marcoux.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

Last night's game marked the first time that Thunder head coach Matt Thomas and former Thunder and Fresno Falcons assistant coach Ryan Mougenel, now head coach for Las Vegas, meet since Mougenel was named Wranglers head coach before the 2009-10 season. As a part of Thomas' bench, the Thunder advanced to the second round for the first time in club history last year and he previously helped Fresno post two 40-win seasons, including a 43-15-14 record in 2005-06 where the Falcons surpassed the 100-point mark and advanced to the National Conference Finals for the first time in club history. Additionally, Thunder forward J.F. Caudron faced Mougenel for the first time since the two were teammates in Atlantic City during the 2002-03 Kelly Cup title run. Thunder forward Kelly Czuy, who previously suited up for Las Vegas for three seasons (2006-09), also faced his former team in last night's game.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder ranks third in the ECHL in attendance with an average of 5,934 fans per game and is vying to tie a league record by leading the league in attendance for five straight seasons. On Jan. 30, the Thunder drew 9,158 fans to Stockton Arena against Victoria, the second largest home crowd this year. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and drew a standing room only crowd of 9,392 on Nov. 8 vs. Alaska. Last year, the Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

BATES AND SWITCH

Since returning from an AHL call-up with the Springfield Falcons, James Bates has embarked on a tear spanning over a month with 26 points (10g-16a) in 16 games and has a +14 rating - the only more efficient effort turned in that span is Tyler Donati of Elmira (+19) and Thunder teammate Chris D'Alvise (+15). Bates currently leads the Thunder with 49 points (18g-31a), 31 assists and has set a new career-high with 18 goals.

ECHL LEADERS - SCORING (since Jan. 15)

Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1. Tyler Donati Elmira Jackals 17 40 18 22 19

2. Mark Derlago Idaho Steelheads 14 28 12 16 9

3. James Bates Stockton Thunder 16 26 10 16 14

4. AJ Perry Utah Grizzlies 17 26 7 19 -7

5. Olivier Proulx Elmira Jackals 17 26 10 16 1

ALL-STAR IS SHINING

Rookie center Chris D'Alvise, who had an assist representing the Thunder at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game in Ontario on Jan. 20, recently had a career-high eight-game scoring streak with eight points (4g-4a) in that span. This month, he has erupted with 12 points (6g-6a) in 9 games. D'Alvise leads the Thunder with 23 goals (T-3, ECHL rookies) and leads Thunder rookies with 43 points (T-6th, ECHL rookies) in 50 games this season. D'Alvise has two hat tricks this season.

'GINI IN A BOTTLE

Goaltender Andrew Perugini, who is second in ECHL save percentage (.920) to teammate Bryan Pitton (leads with.921) and ranks third in the ECHL in goals-against-average (2.60), became the Thunder career shutout leader (4) on Feb. 12 and posted his most recent blanking last Saturday at Bakersfield, a career-high 45-save effort in a 2-0 Thunder win. Perugini went 8-2-2 in a string of 12 starts and was named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week last Tuesday for the second time in his career.

ALL-TIME THUNDER SHUTOUT LEADERBOARD

GOALTENDER SHUTOUTS

1. Andrew Perugini (2008-present) 5

2. Tim Boron (2007-08) 3

3. Devan Dubnyk (2006-07) 2

Glenn Fisher (2007-08) 2

Jake Moreland (2005-06) 2

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ECHL Stories from February 27, 2010


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