Thunder Go for Fourth Win in a Row

Published on March 4, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (27-21-0-5) look to earn their fourth straight victory tonight when they take on the Bakersfield Condors (26-22-2-3) on the road at Rabobank Arena. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. PST. A win would tie the Thunder's longest winning streak of the season, which came from a run of four straight victories from November 20-24.

Fans can watch the game at the Thunder's "home away from home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel while enjoying food and drink specials. The broadcast starts at 6:45 p.m. PST with the Black Oak Casino Resort pre-game show. Live video is available through AmericaONE while fans can listen to free live audio through Spreaker.com and StocktonThunder.com.

It's the Thunder's seventh trip to Bakersfield this season where they have had mixed results. The team had three trips to Rabobank Arena in their first ten games of the season, winning all three by a combined score of 13-7. Since then the Thunder have lost three straight games on the road at Bakersfield, being outscored 17-6 by the Condors. Overall, the Thunder have a slight edge in the season series with a record of 5-3-0-1.

Bakersfield also has a lot to play for, as a win in regulation would vault the Condors ahead of the Thunder in the Western Conference standings. The Thunder are currently in sixth place with 57 points, while Bakersfield sits two points behind. Both teams have played the same number of games, but the Condors would have the tiebreaker as they have one less victory from a shootout.

The Thunder's current three-game winning streak is courtesy of two wins on the road against Colorado and a home victory over the Ontario Reign. Newcomer Adam Brace has been one of the main offensive contributors during this stretch with six points on three goals and three assists. Fellow recently assigned forward Riley Wetmore has also made an impact with one goal and two assists in his four games for the Thunder.

Goaltender Parker Milner remains in good form after picking up his third straight win on Sunday, boosting his overall season record to 7-9-0. The 23-year-old rookie from Boston College has a .912 save percentage and two shutouts on the season, but has not faced Bakersfield this season in any of the Thunder's nine games against the Condors.

The Condors come into tonight's game having earned points in their last five contests. They have four wins and an overtime loss to Colorado in that span, including a 7-1 blowout of the Idaho Steelheads in their last outing on Sunday. Bakersfield has won five of its last six games on home ice where the team has a 14-9-1-1 record this season.

The game offers an interesting match-up with former Thunder player Greg Miller facing his old team for the first time since the Bridgeport Sound Tigers traded him to Oklahoma City for forward Nicholas Tremblay. The 24-year-old rookie led the Thunder with 17 goals and was second on the team in points with 38 in 37 games played at the time of the trade. He has since added four assists in four games with the Condors keeping the Miller in second place in the league for most points by a rookie. Tremblay will not make the trip to Bakersfield as he continues his recovery from an injury.

Another rookie has played a big part in the Condors success in between the pipes. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit has posted a 16-6-2 record with four shutouts in 24 games with the Condors since being assigned after a trade between the NHL's Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. The 20-year-old Surrey, British Columbia native has faced the Thunder twice this season, stopping 61 of 64 total shots while picking up 7-2 and 4-1 victories.

This is one of just three road games for the Thunder in the month of March. The team returns to Stockton Arena this weekend when they take on the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. PST. The game is the Thunder's adult jersey giveaway night with the first 1,500 fans, ages 13 and older, receiving a free Thunder jersey courtesy of the Ray Morgan Company, YP, KAT Country 103 FM and News10 ABC. It is also the Thunder's "Relay for Life Night" as Relay for Life teams will be in attendance to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. For more information visit StocktonThunder.com.

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