Thunder Close January at Home vs. Utah at 7:30

Published on January 31, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Thunder close out the month of January looking for a big win against the Utah Grizzlies. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. with Stockton Arena doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Arena: Stockton Arena

Date: Saturday, January 31

Time: 7:30 p.m. (Doors at 6:30 p.m.)

Giveaway: Thunder Replica Jersey to the first 500 fans 12-years-old and younger

Broadcast: ECHL.TV and Spreaker beginning at 7:15 p.m. PST

This Season's Record: Stockton is 2-2-0-0 vs. Utah

Follow the Thunder Facebook Page for occasional updates or follow @StocktonThunder on Twitter for the play-by-play tweeting!

Last Time vs. Utah

The Stockton Thunder finished their six-game road trip to start 2015 in Utah looking to snap a seven-game losing skid. With one last game before the All-Star break, the Grizzlies got off to a good start with a well worked power play that went from Alex Krushelnyski in the high slot, to Mathieu Aubin in the near circle, to Danick Paquette in front of the net for the tap in for the first goal of the game.

However moments later Tyler Shattock won a big battle in the corner and worked the puck down low for J.T. Barnett behind the Utah net. Barnett fired a pass to the side of the cage where James Henry roofed it to knot the game up. Seconds later Michael Pelech went to the sin bin and the Thunder would capitalize on the power play when Keith Seabrook lit a cannon from the point that was tipped by Garet Hunt and in for the go ahead goal.

In the second though Mario Larocque took a penalty that allowed Utah to tie the game up on the power play with the now traded Michael Collavecchia getting the tally. The score remained deadlocked at two until late in the third period when Aubin would beat Reichard and the Thunder's woes would continue after falling to Utah 2-1.

Tonight

There are a number of changes for tonight on both sides of the ice as the Thunder will be without Lukas Sutter and Kent Simpson who were called up in the past two days to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and fan favorite defenseman Shawn Boutin was dealt to the Idaho Steelheads in exchange for rookie d-man Colin Shea.

However that's just on the Thunder side as the Grizzlies sport a plethora of changes including forwards Brandon Yip, Steve MacIntyre, defenseman Corey Fienhage, and goaltender Igor Bobkov who finds himself back in the ECHL.

Of course one change Thunder fans will notice will be the new #11 for the Grizzlies as former Thunder forward Ryan Hayes occupies that number for Utah.

Who to Watch

He was a force for parts of the past two seasons with the Utah Grizzlies and now that he gets a chance to play his old team for the first time, so it's time to watch Vinny Scarsella.

Scarsella dazzled with his ability to get down the ice quickly. He buzzed around Colorado in his first three games with the Thunder and beat out a number of icing calls and created Colorado turnovers with his backchecking ability.

While he had the unfortunate incident of having a puck come off his skate into his own net, Scarsella did manage to score his first goal and register his first assist on Sunday for the Thunder. He scored the team's second goal and assisted on the following Thunder goal.

All-Time Watch

We're monitoring the situation between Garet Hunt, Ryan Constant and Mike Lalonde as Lalonde's all-time lead in points could be in danger of falling to one of the Thunder's star players soon.

Lalonde's 156 career points is in jeopardy as Constant pulled ahead with 151 points with the Thunder while Hunt is right behind them both with 148.

That means Constant is just 5 points back of tying the record while Hunt is 8 points back of tying the record. Both players have missed time due to injuries this season as Hunt missed 11 games while Constant was placed on Injured Reserve on December 14.

Hunt is the only one close to Lalonde's all-time record of 72 goals with his 56 markers, putting the Thunder captain 16 shy of tying the record.

Reichard's Show

With Kent Simpson reassigned by the Islanders to the AHL, it means it's time for Cody Reichard to once again strut his stuff for the home crowd.

The Celina, Ohio native will see guaranteed action today as Coach Kromm has elected to bring in emergency backup goaltender (ebug) Dave Guy, who can only enter the game on an emergency, injury, basis.

Dave is no stranger to the Thunder having served on three separate occasions as the Thunder's ebug last season. He also was an ebug for the Grizzlies and Idaho Steelheads last seasons to go along with his experience with the San Francisco Bulls in 2012-13.

Reichard has played 178 minutes for the Thunder and is searching for his first win back with the team. He went 13-8-5 with a shutout in 2012-13 with the Thunder before being dealt to the Florida Everblades, whom he'd never see action with.

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