Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

Published on March 26, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


For the first time and only time this season, the Thunder and Las Vegas Wranglers meet at Stockton Arena for three games from March 26-28. It is the first meeting at Stockton Arena between both teams last year's second round (Pacific Division Final) of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, won by Las Vegas, 4-3 in the series. Through the lifetime series, the Thunder is 8-20-1 against the Wranglers and last season, finished 3-0-0 in the regular season in Stockton. The last time both teams met, Las Vegas defeated the Thunder, 6-3 at Orleans Arena on Feb. 28.

LAST 3 THUNDER GAMES

UTA 5 - STK 2 (3/21/10): Vlady Nikiforov scored a goal and added two assists while goaltending prospect Mikko Koskinen stopped 37 shots to help the Utah Grizzlies send the Thunder to a 5-2 defeat before a crowd of 5,432 at Stockton Arena on Sunday. The Thunder, who maintained a tie for fifth place in the conference with the idle Las Vegas Wranglers, suffered just their fourth loss in regulation in the last 21 home games (13-4-4). Chris D'Alvise and James Bates scored for the Thunder, while Tim Crowder chipped in with a pair of goals for the Grizzlies, who took the regular season series from Stockton (7-2-1).

STK 4 - UTA 3 (3/20/10): Oren Eizenman snapped a 3-3 tie on a power-play goal with 16:11 remaining in regulation, helping lift the Stockton Thunder to a 4-3 victory over the Utah Grizzlies before 8,518 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The win, avenging a four-goal setback from the previous night to Utah, boosted the Thunder into a tie for fourth place in the National Conference with Las Vegas. Stockton, who reached the 30-win plateau for the third time in team history, were aided by goals from Brett Hemingway, Chris D'Alvise and James Bates. Goaltender Andrew Perugini, who also reached the 20-win mark (20-13-4) for the second straight season, made 43 saves including 34 in the final two periods.

UTA 6 - STK 2 (3/19/10): Mikko Koskinen, less than a year after being drafted 31st overall by the New York Islanders, made 36 saves in his ECHL debut and the Utah Grizzlies scored five unanswered goals to send the Thunder to a 6-2 defeat before 5,456 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night. The Thunder, who lost in regulation on home ice for only the third time in the last 19 games (12-3-4), fell to sixth place in the National Conference but maintained a four point deficit behind the first place Bakersfield Condors in the Pacific Division, who lost, 5-1 to Victoria. James Bates and Matt Robinson scored for Stockton, while Utah was led offensively by Ryan Kinasewich's pair of goals.

ALL-STAR IS SHINING

Rookie center Chris D'Alvise, who was runner-up for ECHL Player of the Week (Mar. 23), had an assist representing the Thunder at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game in Ontario on Jan. 20 and recently had a career-high eight-game scoring streak with eight points (4g-4a) in that span. In February, he erupted with 13 points (6g-7a) in 10 games. D'Alvise leads the Thunder with 30 goals (T-2, ECHL rookies) and leads Thunder rookies with 61 points (T-4, ECHL rookies) in 62games this season. D'Alvise has two hat tricks this season and posted a career-high four assists on Mar. 6 vs. Victoria (7-3 win). D'Alvise has scored 16 points (6g-10a) in the last eight games.

OH, BROTHER!

For the first time in Thunder history, two pairs of brothers are on the active roster - forwards Brett and Colin Hemingway, and left winger Garet and defenseman Trevor Hunt. Additionally, goaltender Bryan Pitton (recall to Springfield of the AHL) and left winger Jason Pitton (loaned to Springfield), who began the year in Stockton, would boost the total to three pairs if the duo return from the AHL.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLLING IN

The Thunder ranks third in the ECHL in attendance with an average of 5,941 fans per game and is vying to tie a league record by leading the league in attendance for five straight seasons. On Jan. 30, the Thunder drew 9,158 fans to Stockton Arena against Victoria, the second largest home crowd this year. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and drew a standing room only crowd of 9,392 on Nov. 8 vs. Alaska. Last year, 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).

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

Thunder head coach Matt Thomas and former Thunder and Fresno Falcons assistant coach Ryan Mougenel, now head coach for Las Vegas, meet in the series for the fourth time since Mougenel was named Wranglers head coach before the 2009-10 season. As a part of Thomas' bench, the Thunder advanced to the second round for the first time in club history last year and he previously helped Fresno post two 40-win seasons, including a 43-15-14 record in 2005-06 where the Falcons surpassed the 100-point mark and advanced to the National Conference Finals for the first time in club history. Additionally, Thunder forward J.F. Caudron faced Mougenel for the first time since the two were teammates in Atlantic City during the 2002-03 Kelly Cup title run. Thunder forward Kelly Czuy, who previously suited up for Las Vegas for three seasons (2006-09), also faced his former team in last night's game. Las Vegas forwards Josh Prudden (2006-09) and Kyle Hagel (08-09), defenseman Mat Deschamps (05-06) and goaltender Michael Ouzas (08-09) played for Thomas as former Fresno Falcons.

BATES AND SWITCH

Since returning from an AHL call-up with the Springfield Falcons, James Bates has embarked on a tear spanning over two months with 42points (17g-25a) in 31games and has a +15 rating. Bates currently leads the Thunder and is tied for 17th in league scoring with 63 points (25g-38a), 38 assists and has set a new career-high with 25 goals.

ECHL LEADERS - SCORING (since Jan. 15)

Player Team GP PTS G A +/-

1. Tyler Donati Elmira Jackals 30 59 24 35 21

2. Mark Derlago Idaho Steelheads 29 58 27 31 22

3. Adam Miller Las Vegas Wranglers 30 49 21 28 4

4. James Bates Stockton Thunder 31 42 17 25 15

5. Alex Bourret Las Vegas Wranglers 28 41 16 25 1

20 AND OVER ADMITTED

A growing club this season that just set franchise high, five different players with 20 goals in one season adorn the roster, tying a club record when four separate 20-goal scorers dotted the roster in 2005-06 (Joel Irwin, Mike Lalonde, Ned Havern and Aaron Foster). Chris D'Alvise leads the Thunder with 30 goals (3rd, ECHL rookies), Colin Hemingway has 22goals (three off his career-high) to rank fourth and Matt Robinson has 25 goals (new career-high) to rank second. James Bates' 24 goals are also a career-high. The Thunder are looking for their first pair of 30-goal scorers in club history.

THUNDER 20 GOAL CLUB

YR PLAYERS GOALS

05-06 4. Mike Lalonde 29

Joel Irwin 25

Ned Havern 23

Aaron Foster 20

06-07 2. Mike Lalonde 23

Troy Bodie 21

07-08 2. Lance Monych 32

Ryan MacMurchy 23

08-09 2. Ryan Huddy 35*

Cory Urquhart 28

09-10 5. Chris D'Alvise 30 Matt Robinson 25

James Bates 25

Colin Hemingway 22

Oren Eizenman 20

* Denotes Thunder record

'GINI IN A BOTTLE

Goaltender Andrew Perugini, who leads the ECHL save percentage (.913) and is tied for eighth in the ECHL in goals-against-average (2.91), became the Thunder career shutout leader (4) on Feb. 12 and posted his most recent blanking on a week later at Bakersfield, a career-high 45-save effort in a 2-0 Thunder win. Perugini was named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week in February for the second time in his career.

ALL-TIME THUNDER SHUTOUT LEADERBOARD

GOALTENDER SHUTOUTS

1. Andrew Perugini (2008-present) 5

2. Tim Boron (2007-08) 3

3. Devan Dubnyk (2006-07) 2

Glenn Fisher (2007-08) 2

Jake Moreland (2005-06) 2

PLAYOFF NOTES

ECHL NATIONAL CONFERENCE PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(Top-7 in the conference qualify for Kelly Cup playoffs)

2010 Playoff March Notes - - The Thunder has 7 regular season games remaining.

- Stockton has regular season games remaining against the following teams:

Las Vegas (3) Bakersfield (2) Alaska (2)

- The top seven teams in the National Conference will qualify for the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs and will be seeded by conference ranking in the first and second round of the playoffs. The #1 seed will receive a bye through the first round and the #2 seed will play #7, the #3 seed will play #6, and the #4 seed will play #5. Home ice advantage will be determined by points.

- If the Kelly Cup Playoffs began today, the Thunder would face the Bakersfield Condors in the National Conference Quarterfinal.

- Currently, 78 points guarantees a playoff spot as the 8th place Ontario Reign can only amass 78 points this season. The Thunder wins the tie-breaker with Ontario for the final playoff spot.

- The Thunder has surpassed the 30-win plateau for the third time in club history (2006-07 and 2008-09)

- TIE-BREAKER: The tiebreaker for the National Conference if two teams tie will be: 1. Wins, regular season; 2. Points, head-to-head; 3. Wins, head-to-head; 4. Goal differential, head-to-head; 5. Winning percentage, division (if tied teams are from same division; if not, skip to 6); 6. Winning percentage, conference; 7. Goals for, regular season; 8. Goals against, regular season; 9. Coin tos

The tiebreaker for the National Conference if three teams are tied will be: 1. Wins, regular season; 2. Winning percentage, games between the teams; 3. Goal differential, games between the teams; 4. Winning percentage, division; 5. Winning percentage, conference; 6. Goals for, regular season; 7. Goals against, regular season; 8. Coin toss. When two teams remain after the third or other teams are eliminated during any step above, the tiebreaker reverts to Step 1 of the two-team format.

- Last season, the Thunder clinched its third straight Kelly Cup Playoff berth with the 4th seed in the Pacific Division and a 32-33-7 record (71 points)

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