Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Phoenix Roadrunners

November 7, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 6:11 p.m.

RADIO: 1420-AM 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 4 at Phoenix 3

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 five consecutive games, the Thunder returns to the road for a three-game series against the Phoenix RoadRunners resuming tonight 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 a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) 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

Rookie David Rohlfs scored a career-high two goals and goaltender Glenn Fisher stopped a career-high 44 shots as the Thunder won their fifth consecutive game in a 4-3 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners at U.S. Airways Center on Tuesday. The Thunder scored two shorthanded goals, a new single-game record and raced out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Rohlfs, Andy Contois and Jonas Almtorp. Justin Maiser, Brian Yandle and Mitch Carefoot scored for Phoenix.

MAKING A KILLING

The Thunder is second in ECHL penalty kill efficiency with a .935 rate, killing off 48 of 53 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 four power-play goals in 36 opposing chances. Andy Contois and Jonas Almtorp have a shorthanded goal as well - it came against the RoadRunners in two games at U.S. Airways Center.

RISING AGAINST PHOENIX

The Thunder is 10-2-1 in the all-time series against Phoenix and is unbeaten in its last nine games in regulation (8-0-1) 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 18 points (8g-11a) in the first eight games this season and tied for the team's lead in scoring with nine points each. Bennefield leads the Thunder with six goals - tied for 6th in the ECHL while Contois, who spent his rookie season with the Gwinnett Gladiators, ranks second on the Thunder with seven assists.

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.



ECHL Stories from November 7, 2007


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