Thunder Hope to Snap Skid in Idaho Finale

Published on December 7, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (11-8-0-2) look to avoid the sweep tonight on the road against the Idaho Steelheads (11-5-2-2) in the final match-up of the teams' three-game set. The puck drops at 6:10 pm PST at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho.

Fans can watch the broadcast at the Thunder's "Home Away From Home" at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel while enjoying Thunder food and drink specials. Live video is available through AmericaONE sports or fans can listen to free live audio through StocktonThunder.com and Spreaker.com.

The Thunder's winless streak increased to five games after falling 4-2 to the Steelheads on Friday night. The game was a tale of two halves for the Thunder, who started the game slow. In the first period, the Steelheads outshot the Thunder 17-8 but were held off the board by starting goaltender Brad Phillips until late in the opening frame. Austin Fyten scored the first goal at the 15:06 mark after Mitch Wahl did a great job of shielding the puck and getting towards the front of the net. After an initial shot went off the post and Phillips saved the rebound, Fyten tapped the third chance through the goalie's five-hole for the 1-0 lead.

Whatever momentum the Thunder had from holding Idaho scoreless for so long, didn't carry over to the second period. Just a 1:44 into the next frame, Wahl scored himself after a Thunder turnover in the defensive end. Brock Montogmery centered to Anthony Nigro who was wide open in front of the net, but Phillips made a spectacular right pad save to keep him out. Unfortunately for the Thunder, Wahl came sweeping in to tap the puck home for the 2-0 Idaho lead.

It was 3-0 inside four minutes into the second period when Fyten scored his second of the game, but it would be that moment when the Thunder came to life. Thunder Captain Garet Hunt scored the opening goal for the team midway through the period, and then the Thunder nearly cut the deficit to one goal late in the frame. Idaho defenseman Tyler Elbrecht kept the puck out of the net with a snow angel-esque save on the goal line with netminder Josh Robinson out of position.

In the third period the Thunder offense turned it up a notch, outshooting Idaho 15-6. Defenseman Ryan Constant buried a slapshot off a rebound from Mathieu Gagnon's shot 7:12 into the period, but that was as close as the Thunder got. Robinson was able to hold the Thunder at bay the rest of the way before Fyten sealed the win for the Steelheads with an empty net tap in with just 8 seconds to go to make it 4-2.

Phillips, who was starting in place of Brian Foster, made 30 saves on 33 shots faced in just his second start with the team. Phillips was signed in November when goalie Parker Milner was recalled to the AHL by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It was the 24-year-old's second start against Idaho after he picked up the Thunder's last win before the start of the five-game winless streak in a 4-3 overtime victory on November 24th.

The Thunder's turn-around in the second part of the game was credited by Hunt to a commitment to playing physical hockey and getting in hard on the forecheck. However, there were still areas of concern for the team. The Thunder's struggles on the power play continued as the team went 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.

Idaho will look for solid efforts from its top two leading scorers, Wahl and Nigro, to continue in the final match-up of this three game set. The two have combined for 13 points against the Thunder in just four meetings this season. The Thunder's top performer against the Steelheads has been Constant who has 6 points and has scored 3 of his 4 goals this season in the four games against Idaho.

An expected large crowd for the team's Teddy Bear Toss event will also motivate the Steelheads tonight. The Thunder have already played in one opposing team's teddy bear game and will be looking for a better result after the team gave up a goal just 33 seconds in against the Bakersfield Condors in a 6-3 loss on November 30th.

Following tonight's game the Thunder has nearly a full week off before finishing out its current five-game road trip with a visit to the San Francisco Bulls on December 14th. The team then returns home to host the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday, December 15th. Fans can take advantage of the Thunder's special Family Day deal on all Sunday and Wednesday home games by getting four tickets with four hot dogs and four sodas for just $38. Additionally, the first 2,000 fans entering the Stockton Arena will receive a special holiday-themed Thunder poster. Puck drops at 4:00 pm.

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