Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces

February 8, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


February 8, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 4:00 p.m.

RADIO: None

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP

11/28/08 Alaska 3 at Stockton 4

12/31/08 Stockton 2 at Alaska 3 (OT)

1/2/09 Stockton 4 at Alaska 1

1/3/09 Stockton 2 at Alaska 1 (OT)

1/24/09 Alaska 4 at Stockton 5 (SO)

2/4/09 Alaska 1 at Stockton 3

2/8/09 Alaska 4:00 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder finishes the head-to-head season season series with the Alaska Aces today at Stockton Arena, marking the seventh overall meeting between both clubs this year. The Thunder is 12-13-5 in the lifetime matchup vs. Alaska with five wins coming in sudden-death overtime in the last two seasons. The teams last met on Feb. 4 with the Thunder defeating the Aces 3-1 at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 5-0-1 against Alaska this season and is guaranteed a series victory in 2008-09.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

2/7/09 - STK 5 at ONT 1: Behind just 13 skaters to begin the game and five different goal-scorers, the Stockton Thunder (22-20-5, 49 points) moved to within three points of the Pacific Division-leading Ontario Reign in a 5-1 victory over the host Reign before a crowd of 6,569 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who won their fourth game in a row, received goal-scoring support from Mike Lalonde, Matt O'Dette, Craig Valette, Cory Urquhart and Ryan Huddy. Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 32 saves for his seventh straight win in net. Ontario's Geoff Walker scored the team's only goal while Kellen Briggs, an ECHL All-Star in 2008, allowed five goals on 35 shots for the loss.

2/4/09 - AK 1 at STK 3: Goaltender Andrew Perugini had to make only 19 saves to increase his winning streak to six straight games in net, helping the Stockton Thunder (21-20-5, 47 points) sink the Alaska Aces in a 3-1 victory before a crowd of 3,469 at Stockton Arena on Wednesday. The Thunder, who were equipped with just 14 skaters in the lineup, won their third straight game to surpass the .500 mark for the first time this season and climbed back to a five-point deficit behind the Ontario Reign for first place in the Pacific Division. Cory Urquhart, Ryan Huddy and James Bates scored for the Thunder while Alaska countered with a second period goal from Alexandre Imbeault.

1/31/09 - PHX 1 at STK 3: Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 32 saves for his fifth consecutive victory in net and veteran Cory Urquhart scored the eventual game-winning goal at 2:20 of the third period to guide the Stockton Thunder (20-20-5, 45 points) to a 3-1 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,610 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday. The Thunder closed out January with a monthly record of 10-3-0 to reach the .500 mark and climbed to within five points of the Ontario Reign for first place in the Pacific Division, who lost 2-0 to the Alaska Aces tonight. The Thunder received additional goal-scoring support from defenseman Daryl Marcoux and Damian Surma. Forward Mark O'Leary tallied the only Phoenix goal in the third period, snapping Perugini's shutout streak of 110:25.

THUNDER'S WISH IS 'GINI'S COMMAND

Andrew Perugini is on a season-best seven game winning streak in net, lifting his record to 11-6-2 as of Feb. 7. The rookie goaltender, who was assigned to the Thunder from the Springfield Falcons, garnered the first shutout of his pro career on Jan. 28 at Victoria, stopping 38 shots. In his last seven games, Perugini has a 1.70 goals-against-average and a .944 save percentage. Perugini's efforts helped him finish runner-up for Reebok ECHL Goaltender of the Week (Jan. 26-Feb.1).

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,462 through 18 home games, has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. It was the second straight year the Thunder surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. The Thunder's yearly attendance total finished at 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons). Stockton's crowd of 9,737 on Nov. 8 against Victoria was the team's first sellout of the year.

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 65 goals and ascended to the top perch as the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 140 points, scoring the milestone point on a goal on Dec. 21 at Ontario. 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.

Below is a look at Lalonde's placing on the Thunder career scoring charts:

GOALS:

1. Mike Lalonde 66

2. Nathan Martz 29

Steve Slonina 29

3. Tim Verbeek 28

Ryan MacMurchy 28

POINTS

1. Mike Lalonde 140

2. Nathan Martz 122

3. Joel Irwin 68

4. Stephane Goulet 63

5. Ryan MacMurchy 57

STREAK UPDATE: Lalonde returned to the Thunder lineup on Jan. 16 and has scored 14 points (6g-8a) in his last 11 games. His four point effort (2g-2a) on Jan. 16 vs. Las Vegas tied a career-high for scoring and earned In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week honors on Jan. 23.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "That's probably the most complete win of the year because that's a very good hockey team," Urquhart said. "We worked hard, and it's very gratifying."

- Veteran center Cory Urquhart on the Thunder's 3-1 win vs. Alaska, The Record, 2/5/09

"What matters is how we played," Thomas said. "There have been a few complete games since I got here, and we played as well (Wednesday) as we have in any of them. It was a great effort, a well-executed game."

- Head Coach Matt Thomas on the Thunder's 3-1 win vs. Alaska, The Record, 2/5/09



ECHL Stories from February 8, 2009


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