Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Utah Grizzlies

February 13, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


February 13, 2009 - Stockton Arena

FACEOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RADIO: 1420 KSTN

INTERNET: www.StocktonThunder.com (B2 Networks)

2008-09 HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP

12/12/08 Stockton 2 at Utah 4

12/13/08 Stockton 3 at Utah 5

2/13/09 Utah 7:30 p.m.

2/20/09 @ Utah 6:05 p.m.

2/21/09 @ Utah 6:05 p.m.

3/7/09 Utah 7:30 p.m.

3/27/09 Utah 7:30 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Thunder faces the Utah Grizzlies for the third time this season, marking the first time both teams meet at Stockton Arena. Through 24 games in the lifetime series, the Thunder is 9-12-3 against Utah. The Thunder dropped two consecutive games to the Grizzlies on Dec. 12-13 and last time both clubs met, the Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 5-3 at The E-Center. The game begins a stretch of three games in three nights for the Thunder. Making his first return to Stockton as an opponent is Tim Verbeek, who played for the Thunder from 2006-08.

TONIGHT'S GUEST

The Stockton Thunder welcomes staff from the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League to tonight's game, attended by Oilers skating and skills coach Steve Serdachny.

LAST THREE THUNDER GAMES

2/9/09 - IDA 6 at STK 1: Battling through their fourth game in six nights with a shorthanded roster, the Stockton Thunder (23-21-5, 51 points) had its five-game winning streak snapped by giving up six straight goals in a 6-1 loss to the Idaho Steelheads before 4,245 fans at Stockton Arena on Monday night. Kris Sparre led Idaho's offense with the first hat trick of his pro career, while veteran Marty Flichel registered three assists. Mike Lalonde scored the only Thunder goal while Idaho goaltender Matt Climie registered 17 saves.

2/8/09 - AK 2 at STK 3: With another shorthanded roster, this time with 14 skaters, the Stockton Thunder (23-20-5, 51 points) parlayed a wire-to-wire lead for their fifth straight victory in a 3-2 triumph over the Alaska Aces before 5,646 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday. On a day where he was honored with a t-shirt giveaway, Mike Lalonde notched a goal and an assist, including a helper on Cory Urquhart's shorthanded goal in the second period which was the eventual game-winner. Ryan Huddy also scored for the Thunder, who were aided by goaltender Andrew Perugini's eighth straight victory in net and 19 saves. Lance Galbraith and Erik Fabian scored for Alaska.

2/7/09 - STK 5 at ONT 1: Behind just 13 skaters to begin the game and five different goal-scorers, the Stockton Thunder (22-20-5, 49 points) moved to within three points of the Pacific Division-leading Ontario Reign in a 5-1 victory over the host Reign before a crowd of 6,569 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday. The Thunder, who won their fourth game in a row, received goal-scoring support from Mike Lalonde, Matt O'Dette, Craig Valette, Cory Urquhart and Ryan Huddy. Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 32 saves for his seventh straight win in net. Ontario's Geoff Walker scored the team's only goal while Kellen Briggs, an ECHL All-Star in 2008, allowed five goals on 35 shots for the loss.

THUNDER'S WISH IS 'GINI'S COMMAND

Andrew Perugini is on a season-best eight game winning streak in net, lifting his record to 12-6-2 as of Feb. 7. The next win for Perugini ties the Thunder all-time record for longest winning streak (goaltender), currently held by Devan Dubnyk (9-0-0 from 3/9 - 4/4/07). The rookie goaltender, who was assigned to the Thunder from the Springfield Falcons, garnered the first shutout of his pro career on Jan. 28 at Victoria, stopping 38 shots. In his last eight games, Perugini has a 1.73 goals-against-average and a .941 save percentage. Perugini's efforts helped him finish runner-up for Reebok ECHL Goaltender of the Week (Jan. 26-Feb.1) and RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver of the Month for January.

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,310 through 20 home games, has 13 sellouts in the team's franchise history and finished last year as the ECHL's attendance leader for the third consecutive season. It was the second straight year the Thunder surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. The Thunder's yearly attendance total finished at 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for three straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons). Stockton's crowd of 9,737 on Nov. 8 against Victoria was the team's first sellout of the year.

STEP UP TO THE MIKE

Returning to the lineup this season is left wing Mike Lalonde, who is the Thunder all-time leading goal scorer with 65 goals and ascended to the top perch as the Thunder all-time leading scorer with 140 points, scoring the milestone point on a goal on Dec. 21 at Ontario. Selected as the first player in Thunder history to the ECHL All-Star Game (2006), Lalonde led the ECHL with 308 shots and paced the Thunder with 29 goals as a rookie in 2005-06. Lalonde spent last season with Tilburg of the Netherlands League, guiding his team to the Dutch Cup and scoring 92 points (43g-49a) in just 34 games.

Below is a look at Lalonde's placing on the Thunder career scoring charts:

GOALS:

1. Mike Lalonde 68

2. Nathan Martz 29

Steve Slonina 29

3. Tim Verbeek 28

Ryan MacMurchy 28

POINTS

1. Mike Lalonde 143

2. Nathan Martz 122

3. Joel Irwin 68

4. Stephane Goulet 63

5. Ryan MacMurchy 59

STREAK UPDATE: Lalonde returned to the Thunder lineup on Jan. 16 and has scored 17 points (8g-9a) in his last 13 games. His four point effort (2g-2a) on Jan. 16 vs. Las Vegas tied a career-high for scoring and earned In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week honors on Jan. 23.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"He does all the little things right; that's why so many teams looked at him and wanted him," Thomas said. "That's a stat (+13 rating since Dec. 31) that is pretty consistent with a players attention to detail defensively. And Daryl is a smart, hard-working player. He doesn't make many mistakes."

- Head Coach Matt Thomas on defenseman Daryl Marcoux, The Record, 2/13/09

"We're having fun, and we look at this as more of a challenge than a problem," O'Dette said. "You always get up for a challenge." & bsp;

- Defenseman Matt O'Dette on winning with a shorthanded roster, The Record, 2/8/09

PARTY LIKE IT'S 2009

Ever since New Year's Eve, the Thunder have enjoyed scoring in bunches from All-Star Ryan Huddy and rookie forward James Bates. Below is a look at how the Thunder duo ranks among the league's top



ECHL Stories from February 13, 2009


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