Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

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


FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

RECORDS:

Stockton Thunder (8-10-2, 18 points) - 3rd, Pacific

Las Vegas Wranglers (15-2-1, 31 points) - 1st, West

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

10/21/07 Stockton 1at Las Vegas 4

10/23/07 Stockton 2 at Las Vegas 3

12/07/07 Las Vegas at Stockton

12/08/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

01/01/08 Stockton at Las Vegas

01/19/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

01/20/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

02/13/08 Las Vegas at Stockton

03/04/08 Stockton at Las Vegas

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

Amidst a 2-6-2 stretch in the last 10 games that forced a handful of roster moves this week, the Thunder now faces the league's hottest team, the Las Vegas Wranglers, this Friday and Saturday at Stockton Arena. Las Vegas is 11-0-1 in its last 12 games and has only lost twice in regulation in its last 31 regular season games, dating back to the 2006-07 season. The teams met twice in Las Vegas in October with the Wranglers taking both games. The Thunder, who is 4-3-0 at home this season, went 1-2-0 against Las Vegas at Stockton Arena last year.

TONIGHT'S GUESTS

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Oilers development coach Bob Mancini and goaltending coach Pete Peeters.

LAST GAME RECAP

Goaltender Nathan Lawson picked up the second shutout of his career on a 28-save effort as the Thunder suffered the second all-time shutout in modern club history in a 4-0 Utah Grizzlies win over the Thunder before 3,385 at The E-Center on Saturday. Utah forward Keith Johnson scored two goals, aided by third period markers from Trevor Smith and Christian Gaudet.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES

Tonight is the scheduled debut of new Thunder right wing Spencer Carbery and defenseman L.P. Lachance, acquired in a trade earlier this week that sent right wing Jesse Bennefield to the Bakersfield Condors. Carbery ranked 11th among Central Hockey League rookies with 44 points (16g, 28a) last year and ranked third on the Tulsa Oilers with 157 penalty minutes in 63 games. Lachance amassed 90 points (21g, 69a) and 419 penalty minutes in 234 career junior games with Rimouski, Prince Edward Island and Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Goaltender Tim Boron shook off rust from a 17-day absence last week and posted a 1-1-1 record since being acquired off waivers from the Charlotte Checkers, and is facing his former team in Las Vegas for the first time this weekend. Boron stopped a career-high 43 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss last Friday against Utah. Boron has a save percentage of .924 in three games with the Thunder.

FEATURE FLIK

Rookie forward Jacob Micflikier has emerged with 13 points (6g-7a) in his last 11 games, pacing fifth in ECHL rookie scoring with 21 points (6g-15a) and currently five points behind Florida's Mathieu Melanson for the ECHL rookie lead. Micflikier, out of the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), has posted six multi-point games this season.

ABOUT THE WRANGLERS

The Las Vegas Wranglers are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames and the AHL's Quad City Flames and are in their fifth season of ECHL play. Glen Gulutzan is in his fourth season as general manager and head coach for the Wranglers. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Gulutzan played for the Fresno Falcons of the West Coast Hockey League for six seasons, and was a player-assistant coach for the last four. In 1996-97, Gulutzan played in 60 games and had a Fresno record 80 assists and 110 points. Las Vegas qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a Brabham Cup title for the league's best record, tallying a 46-12-14 regular season mark (106 points) followed by a second-round playoff exit against Idaho.



ECHL Stories from December 7, 2007


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