Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers

Published on December 30, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder and the Las Vegas Wranglers will meet at Stockton Arena for the third meeting this season. Through the lifetime series, the Thunder is 10-23-1 against the Wranglers and is 5-3-0 in the regular season in the last eight games in Stockton. The last time both teams met, Stockton was defeated by Las Vegas, 4-2 at Stockton Arena on Dec. 29. Among returning players on the Las Vegas roster, formerly suiting up for the Thunder, are center Geoff Paukovich (2007-09), right winger James Bates (2008-10) and left wing Ryan Huddy (2008-09).

LAST THREE GAMES:

LV 4 - STK 2 (12/30/10): James Bates returned to his former home ice to record a goal, including the game winner, and two assists to help the Las Vegas Wranglers hand the Thunder a 4-2 defeat before 7,050 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who slipped to 0-5-1 in the last six games and maintained a tie for second place in the Pacific Division, were helped with goals from Bretton Cameron and Jason Pitton, while Las Vegas' additional scoring came from Sean McMonagle, Aaron Power and an empty netter from former Thunder winger Ryan Huddy.

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.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 0-2-0)

Wed. Nov. 24 Las Vegas 1 at Stockton 0

Wed. Dec. 29 Las Vegas 4 at Stockton 2

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 19 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) * 358

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

ALL-STAR ARCOBELLO

The Thunder, on Thursday, announced in conjunction with the ECHLthat rookie center Mark Arcobello has been named to the ECHL All-Star roster for the 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic in Bakersfield, Calif. Arcobello leads Thunder rookies with 13 points (6g-7a) in 26 games and is tied for the team's rookie lead with six goals, collecting four penalty minutes.

He was signed to an AHL contract with the Oklahoma City Barons before the season. The 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic presented by CCM will be hosted by the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena and played on Jan. 26, 2011. This year's format features the host team taking on a team of ECHL All-Stars.

THUNDER IN ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Year Venue Representative

2005-06 Fresno Moreland, Lalonde

2006-07 Idaho Geisler, Dubnyk, Martz, Bodie

2007-08 Stockton Farynuk, Contois, MacMurchy

2008-09 Reading Huddy, Urquhart

2009-10 Ontario Blackwater, D'Alvise

2010-11 Bakersfield Arcobello

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 last night, marking 11 of the last 12 games the Thunder have scored a power-play goal. Stockton ranks sixth in the ECHL with a 19.7 percent rate on the power-play, following Wednesday's game.

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, four forwards dot the Las Vegas roster, facing the Thunder for the first time since suiting up for Stockton, and Thomas: Marcus Watson (2010-11), James Bates (2008-10), Ryan Huddy (2008-09) and Geoff Paukovich (2007-09).

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