Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Phoenix Roadrunners

Published on November 6, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 6:11 p.m.

RADIO: 1420 KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

10/24/07 Stockton 4 at Phoenix 0

11/06/07 Stockton at Phoenix

11/07/07 Stockton at Phoenix

11/08/07 Stockton at Phoenix

12/22/07 Phoenix at Stockton

01/26/08 Phoenix at Stockton

02/25/08 Phoenix at Stockton

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

Winners of four consecutive games, the Thunder returns to the road for a three-game series against the Phoenix RoadRunners beginning Tuesday night from U.S. Airways Center. Following the final matchup on Thursday, both teams are finished with the 07-08 season series in the desert. The Thunder has an eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) in the head-to-head matchup and has not lost to Phoenix in regulation since March 7, 2006 in a 2-1 setback at U.S. Airways Center.

LAST GAME RECAP

The Thunder swept a two-game, back-to-back series from the Idaho Steelheads in "Thunder Goes Pink II" last weekend, finishing the series with a 3-2 comeback win before a sellout crowd of 9,737 at Stockton Arena on Saturday. With seven minutes left in regulation, Brandon Schwartz scored his first goal in a Thunder uniform with the game-winner. Jesse Bennefield and Jonas Almtorp also scored for the Thunder while Cam Ellsworth stopped 29 shots in net.

MAKING A KILLING

The Thunder leads the ECHL in penalty kill efficiency with a .935 rate, killing off 43 of 46 opposing power-play chances this season. A large chunk of that success results from its efficiency on the road, where the Thunder has allowed only two power-play goals in 29 opposing chances. Andy Contois has one shorthanded goal as well - it came against the RoadRunners in a 4-0 win on October 24 at U.S. Airways Center.

RISING AGAINST PHOENIX

The Thunder is 9-2-1 in the all-time series against Phoenix and is unbeaten in its last eight games in regulation (7-0-1) in the head-to-head series. Last year, the Thunder went 5-0-1 in the season matchup and was paced by Nathan Martz's eight points (2g-6a). In two games last year, goaltender Cam Ellsworth had a 0.95 goals-against-average and .971 save percentage.

A look at the 2006-07 head-to-head series:

11/04/06 Phoenix 2 at Stockton 3

11/07/06 Stockton 1 at Phoenix 2 (SO)

01/30/07 Stockton 6 at Phoenix 3

02/06/07 Stockton 2 at Phoenix 1 (OT)

03/30/07 Phoenix 0 at Stockton 4

04/01/07 Phoenix 1 at Stockton 4

FAST STARTS

Known for their speed and two of the bigger free-agent signings for the Thunder in the offseason, wingers Jesse Bennefield and Andy Contois have combined for 16 points (7g-9a) in the first seven games this season and tied for the team's lead in scoring with eight points each. Bennefield leads the Thunder with six goals - tied for 3rd in the ECHL while Contois, who spent his rookie season with the Gwinnett Gladiators, is tied for the team's lead with seven assists (Jacob Micflikier).

ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS

The Phoenix RoadRunners are in their third ECHL season, led by head coach Brad Church (first full season as head coach) and began the season with their best start in ECHL history at a 3-0-0 pace. Center Daniel Sisca was named the season's first ECHL Player of the Week with a six point-effort (4g-2a), headlining a three-game sweep of the Utah Grizzlies. Last year, Phoenix clinched the eighth seed in the National Conference and its first-ever Kelly Cup Playoff berth with a 27-40-5 record (59 points). The RoadRunners home is U.S. Airways Center, which doubles-up as the host facility to the NBA's Phoenix Suns.

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