Thunder Battle Birds in Bakersfield

Published on April 11, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (32-31-1-6) finish off their final road trip of the season with a visit to Rabobank Arena to take on the Bakersfield Condors (34-29-2-4) for the final time in the regular season. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. PST.

Thunder fans can check out the game at the team's "Home Away From Home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, where they can watch the game while enjoying Thunder food and drink specials. The broadcast begins tonight at 3:45 p.m. with the Black Oak Casino Resort Pre-Game Show. Fans can watch live, online streaming video through AmericaONE Sports, or listen to free live audio through Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com.

This is the 11th and final regular season game between Stockton and Bakersfield this season. Overall, both teams have a record of 5-4-0-1 against the other. The Thunder earned wins in their first three road games against the Condors, but have lost in their last four straight visits to Rabobank Arena. Bakersfield has won three of four against Stockton since the calendar turned to 2014.

Tonight's game will go a long way in determining the ECHL Western Conference playoff standings. The Thunder need a win and a victory in their final game of the season, both in regulation or overtime, to have any hope of passing the Condors for the sixth seed in the playoffs. They also need Bakersfield to lose all three of their remaining games, with at least two of those losses coming in regulation.

If the Condors did earn one point from their remaining games and the rest of the conditions were fulfilled, the teams would finish tied in the standings with the Thunder possessing the tiebreaker of most wins, discounting shootout victories. A loss to Bakersfield would clinch the seventh seed for Stockton where they would take on either Alaska or Ontario in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs.

The Thunder are coming off a 5-3 loss to Ontario on Wednesday night where they had their three-game winning streak snapped. The Thunder entered the third period with a 1-0 lead but gave up five goals in frame in the eventual loss. It was the first time all season the Thunder had lost a game in regulation when leading after two periods of play. It also marked the most goals allowed by the Thunder in a single period.

The Thunder received goals from Adam Brace, Nick Tremblay, and Jeremy Langlois. It was Tremblay's first goal for the Thunder in just his third game with the team since being swapped from Bakersfield to Stockton in an AHL trade between the Oklahoma City Barons and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Tremblay returns to face the Condors for the first time since the move. He had 8 goals and 8 assists in 41 games for Bakersfield this year.

Forward Joey Martin leads the Thunder's charge against the Condors. The Thunder's leading scorer has 11 points in nine games against Bakersfield. He had an assist on Langlois' goal against Ontario, bringing him 63 points on the season. The team's forward line of Martin, Langlois and Andrew Clark has combined for 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) in their last four games.

The Condors will be looking to forward Chase Schaber to continue his hot play as of late. The 23-year-old from Red Deer, Alberta is the reigning ECHL player of the week after scoring six goals in four games, including two game-winners against Las Vegas. Schaber is currently third on the team with 43 points and is second among players who have been with Bakersfield for the majority of the season, behind only Jordan Knackstedt.

Bakersfield has also gotten a boost from the return of their captain Joel Broda and goaltender and All-ECHL Second Team selection Laurent Brossoit. Broda has had 4 points on 1 goal and 3 assists in his three games since returning from a call-up with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the AHL. Brossoit has won all three of his starts since a call-up to the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers.

Following tonight's match-up the Thunder return home to finish off the regular season on Saturday against Las Vegas. The first 1,500 fans at Stockton Arena will receive a free Thunder rally towel. It is also the Thunder's "Group Appreciation Night" with discounted tickets available for any group who had a night out at a Thunder game this season. For more information, visit StocktonThunder.com.

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ECHL Stories from April 11, 2014


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