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Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Victoria Salmon Kings

February 19, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder continues a four-game homestand against the Victoria Salmon Kings at Stockton Arena. The Thunder is 5-3-0 this season in Victoria and is 4-3-1 at home in the series, dating back to 2009-10. The Thunder is 23-23-5 lifetime against Victoria and the last time both teams met, the Salmon Kings defeated the Thunder, 3-1 at Stockton Arena last night. Victoria enters the day winners in nine of the last 13 games. Both teams meet five more times this season ‚¬" all at Stockton Arena.

LAST THREE GAMES:

VIC 3 ‚¬" STK 1 (2/18/11): David Shantz made 21 saves, including 18 in the last 40 minutes to help the Victoria Salmon Kings defeat the Thunder, 3-1, before 7,887 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday evening. The Thunder, who were limited to a season-low 22 shots, struck for the game ‚¬â„¢s first goal on a Jarrett Konkle bid in the first period, dropped the first game of a four-game homestand and yielded goals to Salmon King forwards Rick Cleaver, Ryan MacMurchy (empty-netter) and a breakaway goal by Rob Hennigar, which stood as the game-winner.

ONT 2 ‚¬" STK 1 (OT) (2/16/11): David Walker ‚¬â„¢s fourth goal of the year in sudden death overtime, a one-timer at the left circle, helped the Ontario Reign escape and defeat the Thunder, 2-1, at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Wednesday night. The Thunder, who completed a five-game road trip at 2-1-2, helped forced overtime on Fraser Clair ‚¬â„¢s 14th goal of the season in the third period. Ontario goaltender Beau Erickson made 27 saves for the win.

STK 3 ‚¬" AK 2 (2/13/11): Jarrett Konkle broke a tied game in the third period with his second of two goals with 15:50 remaining, leading the Thunder to a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over the Alaska Aces before 3,432 fans at Sullivan Arena on Sunday. The Thunder, who broke a 0-5-2 streak at Alaska and earned its first win in Anchorage since December 2009, improved to 2-1-1 on a five-game road trip and helped goaltender Zane Kalemba earn a win in his Thunder debut with 21 saves. Konkle scored both goals in a 2:32 span after Brian Swanson put Alaska ahead, 2-1 early in the third period. Cameron Brodie scored the first goal of his pro career and earned his first multi-point game with an assist.

SEASON SERIES (Thunder is 5-3-0)

Sun. Nov. 21 Victoria 4 at Stockton 1

Wed. Dec. 1 Stockton 3 at Victoria 2 (SO)

Fri. Dec. 3 Stockton 5 at Victoria 3

Sat. Dec. 4 Stockton 5 at Victoria 4 (OT)

Wed. Jan. 5 Stockton 3 at Victoria 2

Fri. Jan. 7 Stockton 2 at Victoria 4

Sat. Jan. 8 Stockton 3 at Victoria 1

Fri. Feb. 18 Victoria 3 at Stockton 1

Sat. Feb. 19 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 20 Victoria 4:00 p.m.

Fri. Mar. 25 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 26 Victoria 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Mar. 27 Victoria 4:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· Ryan Constant is 8 games away from 300 in his professional career

· Kelly Czuy is 8 points away from 100 in his professional career

· Bryan Pitton is 3 games away from 100 in his professional career

SHOOT TO THRILL

The Thunder rank third in average shots per game in the ECHL with 33.7, topped only by Trenton ‚¬â„¢s average of 35.7 and Toledo ‚¬â„¢s, of 34.9. There have been nine different occasions that Stockton has fired over 40 shots or more this season, and last Wednesday ‚¬â„¢s game (37-35, vs. Ontario) was the first time they were outshot by an opponent in 14 games, dating back to Jan. 7 at Victoria (24-34 in 4-2 defeat). Right winger Fraser Clair leads the Thunder individually with 171 shots.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

The Thunder also rank second in least shots allowed per game in the ECHL with 27.8, topped only by Alaska ‚¬â„¢s average of 25.08. Stockton has held an opponent to under 30 shots on goal in nine of the last 11 games and they allowed a season-low 13 shots to Las Vegas on Nov. 24 (1-0 defeat).

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

A whopping crowd of 9,482 piled into Stockton Arena on Jan. 22 for the ‚¬Å“Teddy Bear Toss ‚¬Â game, the largest crowd at Stockton Arena this season and the fourth crowd over 9,000 in the event ‚¬â„¢s history. It helped keep the Thunder in second for ECHL attendance, attracting an average of 6,296 fans per game, through 23 home games. Stockton has 15 sellouts in the team's franchise history and in 2008-09, 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).

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Thunder capped the month of January with a record of 10-5-1, ending the first month of the new year in second place in the Pacific Division. In total, the Thunder had two weekend, three-game series sweeps (Utah and Ontario) and won eight consecutive games, their longest win streak of the season (Jan. 8-23).Stockton scored 51 goals, averaging 3.2 per game. Goaltender Bryan Pitton ran a record of 7-2-1 during the month, returning from Oklahoma City of the AHL.

CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER

The Thunder enters the game with 76 major penalties, leading the ECHL. Additionally, their average of 20.9 penalty minutes ranks fifth in the ECHL. Individually, the Thunder is led by Garet Hunt, who has 135 penalty minutes. Eight players on the Thunder have registered 60 penalty minutes or more this season.

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 Idaho.

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). The Thunder are 6-2-2 in the last ten road games.

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) * 365

2. Malcolm Cameron (four teams) * 317

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

4. Matt Thomas (Stockton, Fre, A.C.) * 258

5. Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) 254

* Currently ECHL active

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