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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Victoria Salmon Kings

December 3, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder continues a three-game road trip at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre tonight against the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:05 p.m. The Thunder (4-0-2) and Elmira (5-0-2) are the remaining two unbeaten teams in regulation while on the road, this year in the ECHL. The Thunder is 19-21-5 lifetime against Victoria and the last time both teams met, the Thunder defeated Victoria, 3-2 in a shootout on Wednesday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Stockton enters the day tied for first place in the Pacific Division.

LAST THREE GAMES:

STK 3 ‚¬" VIC 2 (SO) (12/1/10): Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 29 saves in his return from the American Hockey League and stopped three attempts in a shootout to boost the Thunder to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings before a crowd of 3,010 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday. The Thunder, who reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division and snapped a four-game winless skid in regulation, remained unbeaten on the road as well at 4-0-2 this season. Pitton, who improved to 5-0-2 in the ECHL, stopped Rick Cleaver, Matt Siddall and Chad Painchaud in the shootout and also came up with a game-saving stop on Matt Siddall in the remaining seconds of overtime.

UTA 3 ‚¬" STK 2 (11/26/10): J.P. Lamoureux made saves on 34 shots, including all 20 he saw in the third period, to send the Thunder to a 3-2 defeat to the Utah Grizzlies before 5,332 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder who dropped to 0-3-1 in the last four games despite keeping hold of first place in the Pacific Division, were helped out on goals from Aaron Clarke and Jason Pitton. Utah used three unanswered goals in the decisive rally and were aided on Chris Donovan's game-winning goal in the second period.

LV 1 ‚¬" STK 0 (11/24/10): Goaltender Michael Ouzas made a season high 42 saves for his fifth career shutout, helping the Las Vegas Wranglers defeat the Thunder, 1-0, before a crowd of 4,018 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who were shut out for the first time this season, came within three shots of matching their season-high and outshot Las Vegas, 42-13 in the game to tie the team's all-time record for least shots allowed. Ouzas also had all 20 shots turned away in the second period. Garrett Zemlak took the loss for the Thunder with 12 stops. Ned Lukacevic scored the only goal in the first period.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 1-1-0)

Sun. Nov. 21 Victoria 4 at Stockton 1

Wed. Dec. 1 Stockton 3 at Victoria 2 (SO)

Fri. Dec. 3 at Victoria 7:05 p.m. |

Sat. Dec. 4 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 5 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Fri. Jan. 7 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 8 at Victoria 7:05 p.m.

Fri. Feb. 18 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Feb. 19 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 20 Victoria 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 25 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 26 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 27 Victoria 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

Chris Lawrence is 2 games away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 11 points away from 200 in his professional career

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD

The Thunder broke a club record on Saturday, Nov. 20 in a 2-1 shootout loss to Idaho for a 12-game unbeaten streak in regulation (8-0-4). The previous standard was set with an 11-0-0 run in 2006-07. The Thunder began the streak with a 5-4 overtime loss to Ontario on Oct. 16 at Stockton Arena and tied the mark on Nov. 18, in a 3-2 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads.

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN

Returning to the home province of British Columbia are four players that dot the Thunder roster. Defensemen Cameron Brodie (White Rock) and Steve Vanoosten (Langley) are joined by brothers Garet and Trevor Hunt (Maple Ridge) who all claim their respective cities within the province as their hometown.

PITT STOP

Goaltender Bryan Pitton is 5-0-1 in six ECHL decisions and returned from the American Hockey League on Wednesday to post a 29-save victory, including three of four saves in a shootout (3-2 win). As of Thursday, Pitton's 1.90 goals-against-average is second in the ECHL and is tied with Mike Zacharias (Idaho) with two shootout wins to lead the ECHL. He has earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors three times in his career.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

The Thunder have allowed just 25.8 shots per game, lowest in the ECHL. The Thunder have allowed over 30 shots on goal in just six games this year and on Nov. 24, the Thunder tied a franchise low with 13 shots allowed in a 1-0 defeat to Las Vegas. They outshot Las Vegas, 42-13. In the last game, the Thunder outshot Victoria, 36-31 in a 3-2 shootout win on Dec. 1.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas ranks third in wins in the last decade in the ECHL (among active coaches), entering the year with a lifetime .606 win percentage (234-143-54 record) in six seasons as a head coach for Stockton, Fresno and Atlantic City. Thomas also has never missed the playoffs, won a Kelly Cup championship in 2002-03 as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, has been named coach for the ECHL All-Star Game twice (2005, 2009) and has been behind the bench in a coaching role for teams that advanced to the Conference Finals three times.

ALL-TIME WINS, REGULAR SEASON (2000-2010)

COACH WINS

1. Jeff Pyle (Gwinnett, Mobile) * 357

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 306

3. Davis Payne (Alaska, Pee-Dee) 289

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 242

* Currently ECHL active

ROSTER SERVES A TALL ORDER

Eleven players on the Thunder active roster measure at 6-foot-1 or taller: Anthony Aiello (6-1), Cameron Brodie (6-1), Jesse Gimblett (6-3), Chris Lawrence (6-4), Jim McKenzie (6-2), Chase Ryan (6-2), Bryan Pitton (6-2), Steve Vanoosten (6-1), Craig Valette (6-1), Marcus Watson (6-2) and Garrett Zemlak (6-1).

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