Thunder Eyes Division Title

Published on March 29, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: (all times PT)

vs. Bakersfield Condors (Tuesday and Wednesday - 7:00 p.m.) - 1280 AM KWSX, B2 Networks*

With just four games remaining in the regular season, a showdown for first place implications in the Pacific Division is on tap for Tuesday and Wednesday, as the Thunder, two points behind the Bakersfield Condors, tangle with the first place counterpart in a home-and-home series on Tuesday at Rabobank Arena and Wednesday at Stockton Arena. Wednesday's game is the Thunder's regular season home finale. In the last meeting, the Thunder defeated the Condors, 2-0 at Rabobank Arena on Feb. 20. Stockton carries at lifetime record of 16-16-10 against Bakersfield and leads the season series, 5-3-2.

at Alaska Aces (Friday and Saturday - 8:15 p.m.) - 1280 AM KWSX, B2 Networks

The Thunder squares off against the Alaska Aces to end the regular season schedule with back-to-back meetings on Friday and Saturday at Sullivan Arena. This season, the Thunder is 4-0-3 against Alaska and three of four games between the teams have headed into overtime or a shootout at Stockton Arena. The Thunder all-time time record is 18-13-8 against the Aces while going unbeaten in regulation for the last 14 games (11-0-3) against Alaska, dating back to 2007-08. The last time both teams met, the Thunder defeated the Aces, 3-1 at Stockton Arena on Jan. 31. After going 0-5-1 at Sullivan Arena in the first two seasons, the Thunder is 8-2-1 in the last three seasons in Anchorage and swept three games from the host Aces in December.

1280 AM KWSX is the Thunder's flagship radio station on the road this year and all Thunder games can be heard live on the Internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $7 "pay-per-view" charge at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Radio broadcaster Mike Benton provides play-by-play commentary with the "Thunder Forecast" pre-game show starting 15 minutes before each broadcast.

*Denotes Wednesday's broadcast online only

2010 Playoff March Notes -

- The Thunder has 4 regular season games remaining.

- Stockton has regular season games remaining against the following teams:

Bakersfield (2)

Alaska (2)

- The top seven teams in the National Conference will qualify for the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs and will be seeded by conference ranking in the first and second round of the playoffs. The #1 seed will receive a bye through the first round and the #2 seed will play #7, the #3 seed will play #6, and the #4 seed will play #5. Home ice advantage will be determined by points.

- If the Kelly Cup Playoffs began today, the Thunder would face the Utah Grizzlies in the National Conference Quarterfinal.

- Currently, 76 points guarantees a playoff spot as the 8th place Ontario Reign can only amass 76 points this season. The Thunder wins the tie-breaker with Ontario for the final playoff spot.

- The Thunder has surpassed the 30-win plateau for the third time in club history (2006-07 and 2008-09) and last year's point total (71).

- TIE-BREAKER: The tiebreaker for the National Conference if two teams tie will be: 1. Wins, regular season; 2. Points, head-to-head; 3. Wins, head-to-head; 4. Goal differential, head-to-head; 5. Winning percentage, division (if tied teams are from same division; if not, skip to 6); 6. Winning percentage, conference; 7. Goals for, regular season; 8. Goals against, regular season; 9. Coin toss

The tiebreaker for the National Conference if three teams are tied will be: 1. Wins, regular season; 2. Winning percentage, games between the teams; 3. Goal differential, games between the teams; 4. Winning percentage, division; 5. Winning percentage, conference; 6. Goals for, regular season; 7. Goals against, regular season; 8. Coin toss. When two teams remain after the third or other teams are eliminated during any step above, the tiebreaker reverts to Step 1 of the two-team format.

- Last season, the Thunder clinched its third straight Kelly Cup Playoff berth with the 4th seed in the Pacific Division and a 32-33-7 record (71 points)

PROMOTIONAL NEWS

Wednesday, March 29 vs. Bakersfield Condors, 7:00 p.m.

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT

- A special night to salute Thunder fans for their loyalty throughout the season with special giveaways, including free HDTV's, and a "jersey off the back" promotion during the game! Fans are invited to stay after the game for a special Thunder regular season awards ceremony.

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY POSTER GIVEAWAY (presented by KAT Country 103)

- All fans in attendance receive a commemorative fifth anniversary Thunder poster!

FAMILY DAY (presented by 99.3 KJOY and Metro PCS)

- $29 upper premium / end zone admission (four tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, coupon for $4 dollars off the Fan Attic) with coupon available by visiting participating MetroPCS locations. An $84 value.

KINGS ROOM" PREGAME AND POSTGAME PARTIES FEATURING LIVE MUSIC

Back by popular demand, the Stockton Thunder is hosting pregame and postgame parties inside the new "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena, open before each home game and after each Friday and Saturday home game. A great gathering place for Thunder fans to rally before the game or celebrate a win after, select drink specials and a special food menu is included along with live music throughout the evening! For more information, call the Thunder at (209) 373-1500.

2009-10 TEAM LEADERS:

Points - James Bates (65)

Goals - Chris D'Alvise (31)

Assists - James Bates (39)

Plus/Minus - Daryl Marcoux (+18)

Penalty Minutes - Garet Hunt (210)

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o J.F. Caudron is 11 assists away from 100 in his ECHL career

o Oren Eizenman is 7 assists away from 100 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES

- Matt Robinson picked up the first hat trick of his career on Mar. 27 vs. Las Vegas (6-5 win)

- Chris D'Alvise is tied for second in ECHL goal scoring among rookies with 31 goals

- James Bates has scored 13 points (7g-6a) in the last 11 games

- Stockton is third in the ECHL with an average of 6,006 fans in attendance (35 home games)

- Stockton's power-play on the road leads the ECHL at 24.5 percent (38-for-155)

- Matt Robinson's next goal (29 goals) would join Chris D'Alvise (31 goals) to give Stockton their first pair of 30-goal scorers in team history

The team's upcoming schedule for the coming week is as follows:

(subject to change, all times PT)

TUE, MAR. 30:

No morning skate

7:00 p.m. - GAME AT BAKERSFIELD (Rabobank Arena)

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

WED, MAR. 31:

No morning skate

5:30 p.m. - Pre-game media access ends

7:00 p.m. - GAME VS. BAKERSFIELD (Stockton Arena)

StocktonThunder.com

THURS, APR. 1:

Travel day to Anchroage, Alaska

FRI. APR. 2:

12:15 p.m. - Morning skate at Sullivan Arena

8:15 p.m. - GAME AT ALASKA

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

SAT. APR. 3:

12:15 p.m. - Morning skate at Sullivan Arena

8:15 p.m. - GAME AT ALASKA

1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com

SUN. APR. 4:

To be determined

MON. APR. 5:

To be determined

WEEK IN REVIEW

STK 6 - LV 5 (3/28/10): Left winger Matt Robinson completed a hat trick on a dramatic, game-winning goal with 59.5 seconds left in regulation, helping the Thunder overcome two separate three-goal deficits in a thrilling 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Las Vegas Wranglers before a crowd of 6,845 at Stockton Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Thunder, whose magic number was reduced to three to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth, moved to within two points of the idle Bakersfield Condors for first place in the Pacific Division, scored three goals in the final period and five of the last six goals in the game. Chris D'Alvise (1g-2a) and J.F. Caudron (1g-1a) chipped in with multi-point games while Bryan Young added a first period goal for the Thunder, helping backup goaltender Kurtis Mucha earn the first win of his pro career.

LV 3 - STK 2 (3/27/10): Alex Bourret bounced a loose rebound off traffic to the back of the net, snapping a 2-2 tie with 2:55 left in regulation, helping the Las Vegas Wranglers send the Thunder to a 3-2 loss before 8,053 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The loss kept the Thunder's magic number at 5 to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff berth and received goal-scoring support from Colin Hemingway and Matt Marquardt. Jimmy Spratt earned the win in net with 25 saves while Andrew Perugini took the loss with 26 stops.

STK 3 - LV 2 (SO) (3/26/10): Goaltender Andrew Perugini made 19 saves, including all three in a shootout, to help guide the Thunder to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pacific Division rival Las Vegas Wranglers, before 5,717 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday. James Bates and Igor Gongalsky scored for the Thunder while Oren Eizenman put the game away with a shootout winner in the fourth round, firing a snap shot past Jimmy Spratt to the stick side. Additional shootout goals included Kelly Czuy (second round) and newcomer Matt Marquardt (third round).

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