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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads

January 30, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


TONIGHT ‚¬â„¢S MATCHUP

The Stockton Thunder, who are 9-2-1 in the last 12 games, finishes a weekend series after the All-Star break tonight against the Idaho Steelheads. The Thunder is 3-1-3 this year against Idaho. The last time both teams met was last night, and Stockton was defeated by Idaho, 4-1 at Stockton Arena. All time, the Thunder is 20-26-6 against Idaho. Stockton enters the game fourth place in the Western Conference.

TONIGHT ‚¬â„¢S GUESTS

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, attended by Sharks vice president and assistant general manager Wayne Thomas.

LAST THREE GAMES:

IDH 4 ‚¬" STK 1 (1/29/11): Tyler Beskorowany made 35 saves, including the first 27 he saw through the first two periods to help the Idaho Steelheads defeat the Thunder, 4-1, before 8,923 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. Idaho, who jumped to two points ahead to third in the Western Conference, despite playing six more than the Thunder, were helped out by Evan Barlow ‚¬â„¢s two-goal effort. Jesse Gimblett scored the only Thunder goal, breaking Beskorowany ‚¬â„¢s shutout bid with 9:58 left in the game. Stockton took its first loss in regulation since Jan. 7 and in the head-to-head series this season, falling to 3-1-3.

IDH 4 ‚¬" STK 3 (1/28/11): Tyler Beskorowany made 33 saves, stopping all five shots additionally in a shootout, and Mark Derlago scored a pair of goals which were enough to help the Idaho Steelheads slip by the Thunder in a shootout, 4-3, before a crowd of 5,640 at Stockton Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who saw their eight game-winning streak snapped but stayed unbeaten in regulation in nine games (8-0-1), were helped out with a goal each from Mark Arcobello, Steve Vanoosten and Dan Ringwald. For the sixth time in as many games in the head-to-head series, both teams played to a one-goal game.

STK 4 ‚¬" ONT 2 (1/23/11): A trio of power-play goals, including Ryan Constant ‚¬â„¢s eventual game-winner, were enough to boost the Thunder to a 4-2 victory and three-game, weekend sweep over the Ontario Reign, before an announced crowd of 7,434 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Sunday. The Thunder, who won their eighth straight game and moved into sole possession of third place in the Western Conference, received additional goal-scoring help and three-point games from Jim McKenzie and former Reign forward P.A. Bureau, while Jarrett Konkle also helped out with a first period goal. Garrett Zemlak, returning to Ontario for the first time since the Reign traded him to Kalamazoo in October, picked up the win in net for the Thunder with 25 saves.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· Ryan Constant is 8 games away from 300 in his professional career

· Jim McKenzie is 7 games away from 200 in his professional career

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 3-1-3)

Wed. Nov. 10 Stockton 2 at Idaho 1 (SO)

Fri. Nov. 12 Stockton 3 at Idaho 4 (SO)

Sat. Nov. 13 Stockton 5 at Idaho 4

Thur. Nov. 18 Idaho 2 at Stockton 3 (SO)

Sat. Nov. 20 Idaho 2 at Stockton1 (SO)

Fri. Jan. 28 Idaho 4 at Stockton 3 (SO)

Sat. Jan. 29 Idaho 4 at Stockton 1

Sun. Jan. 30 Idaho 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 18 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 19 Idaho 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 20 Idaho 4:00 p.m.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

A sellout crowd of 8,923 piled into Stockton Arena last night, the third largest crowd at Stockton Arena this season. It lifted the Thunder to the ECHL lead in attendance, attracting an average of 6,273 fans per game, through 19 home games. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 15 sellouts in the team's franchise history and in 2008-09, 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).

LIKE THUNDER, THE OFFENSE ROLLS

The Thunder have posted a combined 41 goals in their last ten games, also tying a season-high with seven goals in last Friday ‚¬â„¢s 7-2 win vs. Ontario. Currently, the Thunder ranks 9th in the ECHL with 3.2 goals per game.

CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER

The Thunder enters Sunday ‚¬â„¢s game with 69 major penalties, leading the ECHL. Additionally, their average of 22.3 penalty minutes ranks third in the ECHL, eclipsed only by Bakersfield ‚¬â„¢s average of 23.8 and Utah ‚¬â„¢s average of 24.1 per game. Individually, the Thunder is led by Garet Hunt, who has 98 penalty minutes. Ten players on the Thunder have registered 50 penalty minutes or more at the halfway mark this season.

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 Idaho.

THUNDER ANSWERS ROAD RULES CHALLENGE

The Thunder owned a 6-0-2 streak on the road to begin the season, finishing as the last remaining team in the ECHL yet to lose a game in regulation on the road. Additionally, the streak to start the season broke the mark of five straight games without a loss in regulation (5-0-0), set back in 2006-07 (Mar. 17-31). Currently, the Thunder have won five straight games on the road, tying a season high.

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) * 362

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 314

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

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 254

* Currently ECHL active

ON THE MARK

Returning for his first home game since an AHL recall, Mark Arcobello became the first player in Thunder history to collect a hat trick and pick up the Most Valuable Player award in the ECHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, in a 9-3 win for the ECHL All-Star team over the host Bakersfield Condors. Arcobello scored on three of the first five goals for the All-Stars, and represented the Thunder at the game along with trainer Kevin Anderson. Arcobello ‚¬â„¢s feat made him the eighth player in ECHL All-Star Game history to pick up a hat trick in the game. Currently, he has five points in the last six games.

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