Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

Published on December 29, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder and the Las Vegas Wranglers will meet at Stockton Arena for the second and third meetings this season. Through the lifetime series, the

Thunder is 10-22-1 against the Wranglers and is 5-2-0 in the regular season in the last seven games in Stockton. The last time both teams met, Stockton was defeated by Las Vegas, 1-0 at Stockton Arena on Nov. 24. Among returning players on the Las Vegas roster, formerly suiting up for the Thunder, are right winger James Bates (2008-10) and left wing Ryan Huddy (2008-09).

LAST THREE GAMES:

BAK 4 - STK 3 (OT) (12/27/10): Andrew Ianiero's goal with 47 seconds into overtime capped off a three-goal comeback for the Bakersfield Condors, who edged the Thunder, 4-3 in sudden death overtime, before 5,338 fans at Rabobank Arena on Monday. The Thunder, who ended a four-game losing skid, were aided by Garrett Zemlak's 32 saves, while counterpart Josh Tordjman earned the win with 34 stops. Bretton Cameron, Jesse Gimblett ( ‚¬Å“Gordie Howe Hat Trick ‚¬Â with goal, assist and fight) and Chris Lawrence each scored for the Thunder. Bakersfield erased a 3-1 deficit in the final seven minutes with back-to-back goals from J.D. Corbin and Slava Truhkno.

BAK 1 - STK 0 (12/26/10): Josh Tordjman recorded his second shutout of the season, stopping 35 shots and Evan Stoflet scored the game-winning goal with 1:17 left in regulation, helping the Bakersfield Condors send the Thunder to a 1-0 defeat before 5,321 fans at Rabobank Arena on Sunday. The Thunder, who dropped its season-high fourth straight loss, were helped out by goaltender Garrett Zemlak's 22 saves and outshot the Condors, 35-23 for the game. Stoflet's goal sent Bakersfield to its fifth straight victory.

AK 5 - STK 2 (12/18/10): Maxime Tanguay collected a pair of assists, including one on the game-winner to Jared Stewart in the second period to help the Alaska Aces defeat the Thunder, 5-2, before 4,202 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday. The Thunder, who were swept in a three-game series for the first time all season, battled back twice to tie the game in the first and second period on a power-play goal from Ryan Constant, and Craig Valette's first goal since coming back to the active roster. Gerald Coleman won in net with 31 saves and topping Bryan Pitton's 22 stops, who took the defeat.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 0-1-0)

Wed. Nov. 24 Las Vegas 1 at Stockton 0

Wed. Dec. 29 Las Vegas 7:00 p.m.

Thur. Dec. 30 Las Vegas 7:00 p.m.

Tue. Feb. 1 at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.

Wed. Mar. 30 Las Vegas 7:00 p.m.

Fri. Apr. 1 at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.

Sat. Apr. 2 at Las Vegas 7:05 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

Ryan Constant is 6 points away from 200 in his professional career

Ryan Constant is 20 games away from 300 in his professional career

Jim McKenzie is 17 games 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.

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).

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) * 309

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

4. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

5. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 245

* Currently ECHL active

POWER SURGE

A power-play goal in a game at Alaska on Dec. 18 extended the Thunder's streak to nine straight games with a power-play goal, the longest for the entire season which was snapped Monday. (0-for-3 at Bakersfield). Stockton scored a power play goal on Monday, marking 10 of the last 11 games the Thunder have scored a power-play goal. Stockton ranks seventh in the ECHL with a 19 percent rate on the power-play, following Monday's game.

SHOOTOUT AT OK CORRAL

The Thunder leads the ECHL with four shootout wins and 14 points in overtime. The 4-2 record in shootouts surpasses Stockton's 1-8 record in shootouts last season and the Thunder are led by Chris Lawrence's .500 mark (2-of-4) in shootouts, among active players. Bryan Pitton, who has stopped 10 of 14 shots (.714 pct), is tied for the ECHL lead with two shootout wins.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

The Thunder, taking on the Las Vegas Wranglers, share past historical connections between opposing locker rooms. Thunder head coach Matt Thomas previously coached or worked with Las Vegas head coach Ryan Mougenel ( former Atlantic City forward, Fresno and Stockton assistant coach) from 2002-03 and 2005-09. Fraser Clair was a forward and Stockton assistant coach Matt O'Dette was a defenseman for Fresno in 2005-06 when Thomas was head coach and Mougenel was assistant coach. On Las Vegas' side, three forwards of the Wranglers are on the roster, facing the Thunder for the first time since suiting up for the Thunder, and Thomas: James Bates (2008-10), Ryan Huddy (2008-09) and Geoff Paukovich (2007-09).

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