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Stockton Thunder At Las Vegas Wranglers Game Preview

April 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FACEOFF: 7:05 p.m. PT

RADIO: 1420-AM KSTN

INTERNET: www.stocktonthunder.com (B2 Networks)

2007-08 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

10/21/07 Stockton 1 at Las Vegas 4

10/23/07 Stockton 2 at Las Vegas 3

12/07/07 Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 3 (SO)

12/08/08 Las Vegas 2 at Stockton 1

01/01/08 Stockton 1 at Las Vegas 4

01/19/08 Las Vegas 4 at Stockton 1

01/20/08 Las Vegas 0 at Stockton 1

02/13/08 Las Vegas 3 at Stockton 0

03/04/08 Stockton 1 at Las Vegas 5

THUNDER AWARD WINNERS

o Most Valuable Player - Brandon Schwartz

o Best Defenseman - Brian Lee

o Unsung Hero - Mark Adamek

REGULAR SEASON LEADERS

o GOALS - Lance Monych (32)

o ASSISTS - Brandon Schwartz (36)

o POINTS - Monych/Schwartz (52)

o PIM - Adam Huxley (200)

o POWER PLAY GOALS - Monych (12)

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The eighth-seeded Thunder will open the National Conference Quarterfinals against the first-seeded Las Vegas Wranglers. The matchup features players with first round NHL Entry Draft experience (Ryan O'Marra of the Thunder and Peter Ferraro of the Wranglers) that span 13 years - Ferraro was drafted 24th overall by the New York Rangers in 1992 and O'Marra was drafted 15th overall by the New York Islanders in 2005. It marks the Thunder's second straight playoff appearance and second in three seasons since joining the ECHL. The Wranglers will also make their third straight playoff appearance and fourth overall.

THUNDER PLAYOFF NOTES

It is the first time the Thunder will meet the Las Vegas Wranglers in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Last season, the Thunder lost to the eventual Kelly Cup champion Idaho Steelheads, 4-2 en route to Idaho's second Kelly Cup Championship in four seasons. The Thunder won its first playoff game in team history, defeating Idaho 4-2 at Qwest Arena. Idaho beat the Thunder 2-1 in double overtime in game 3 at Stockton Arena before the Thunder retaliated with a 3-2 win in game 4, two days later in Stockton before falling again in overtime to Idaho, 3-2 at Stockton Arena in game 5.

SEASON SERIES RECAP

The Thunder compiled a season series record of 2-7-0 this season against Las Vegas and finished 2-3-0 at Stockton Arena. Ryan O'Marra's goal in the fifth round of a shootout capped a dramatic comeback by Thunder in a 3-2 shootout victory over Las Vegas on December 7. The Thunder took its second win of the regular season over Las Vegas in a 1-0 win at Stockton Arena on January 20, when goaltender Tim Boron made a career-high 50 saves for his second career shutout.

FIRST THING'S FIRST

Of the 27 wins the Thunder has accumulated this season, 23 have come when the Thunder scores the first goal of the game. The Thunder finished 23-13-2 when scoring the first goal of the game. Lance Monych led the Thunder with nine "first goals."

CROWING OUT THE ECHL

The Thunder announced that last Saturday's home game against the Victoria Salmon Kings was officially a sellout, marking the fourth capacity crowd of 9,737 that the Thunder has drawn this year at Stockton Arena. The Thunder leads the ECHL in attendance and it is the second straight year the Thunder has surpassed the mark of 230,000 fans for one season. Saturday's crowd raised the Thunder's yearly attendance total to 239,337, an average of 6,648 fans per game. The Thunder is vying to become 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).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"Both have proven themselves in big games," Cichocki said. "They know how to prepare for these situations, and that's going to be helpful. We have two good goalies."

- Chris Cichocki, The Record, 4/10/08 on goaltenders Tim Boron and Glenn Fisher

REGIONAL COINCIDENCE

The NHL's San Jose Sharks are currently in the midst of a first round Stanley Cup Playoff series with the Calgary Flames, the third time both teams have met in the head-to-head history. The Thunder, located 81 miles east of the Sharks' home turf - HP Pavilion at San Jose - are in the midst of a first round Kelly Cup Playoff series with the Las Vegas Wranglers - the ECHL affiliate of the Flames.

GOAL(TENDING) ORIENTED

Goaltender Tim Boron has provided some of the most prolific goaltending in the Thunder's three-year history, breaking the single-season club record with three shutouts and made a career-high 50 saves against Las Vegas in a 1-0 win at Stockton Arena on January 20. Boron ranked for third in the ECHL with three shutouts and won a CHL Championship last year with the Colorado Eagles as a rookie. Meanwhile, Thunder rookie netminder Glenn Fisher, a fifth round selection (148th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, parlayed his two best months of the season in February and March. Fisher had a season-best 2.52 goals-against-average and .933 save percentage in February and had a.908 save percentage in March. Fisher was a part of college national power Denver (NCAA) and helped guide the Pioneers to the program's second straight national championship (7th overall) in 2004-05.

IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER ...

The Thunder had five wins this season when trailing after two periods, including four on home ice at Stockton Arena.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

The Thunder has one player (goaltender Tim Boron) with pro championship experience - Boron was in net for the CHL's Colorado Eagles last season as a rookie. Additionally, two other Thunder players have reached the Kelly Cup Finals. Captain and defenseman Brad Farynuk tied the ECHL lead among defensemen and led all Dayton defensemen with 16 points (4g-12a) in 22 Kelly Cup Playoff games last year, helping guide the Bombers to a Kelly Cup Finals berth. Thunder defenseman Tim O'Connell leads the Thunder with 59 games of professional playoff experience, helping guide the Florida EverBlades to two consecutive berths in the Kelly Cup Finals (2004 and 2005).

Below is a list of the top-5 Thunder players who have the most pro playoff experience in games:

PLAYER GAMES

Tim O'Connell 59

Tim Verbeek 38

Brad Farynuk 22

Joe Dustin 14

Brian Lee 13

THUNDER FANS ASKED TO BLACKOUT LAS VEGAS

All Thunder fans are asked to wear black-colored clothing at all first round Kelly Cup Playoff home games at Stockton Arena, beginning Sunday with game 3 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round at 6:00 p.m. Special-edition black apparel for fans will be available for sale beginning Sunday during the Kelly Cup Playoffs, highlighted by "BLACKOUT LAS VEGAS" t-shirts on sale at the Stockton Arena FanAttic and all Stockton Arena merchandise stands, starting at $15. An additional team-issue Stockton Thunder Playoff Long Sleeve Shirt, previously only available to Thunder players, will be on sale to all fans with the slogan "ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL."

CROWDING OUT THE ECHL

After finishing the last four games on the road for the regular season, it's official - the Thunder finished the regular season as the ECHL's attendance champions for the third consecutive season and drew four capacity crowds of 9,737 this year at Stockton Arena. It is the second straight year the Thunder has 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).



ECHL Stories from April 11, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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