Thunder Opens up Three-In-Three vs Grizzlies

November 22, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (@StocktonThunder), proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders and AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, kicks off a stretch of three games in three days against the Utah Grizzlies (4-6-1-1) tonight. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the Silver Bullet Bar opening at 5:30 p.m.

Fans who can't make it out to Stockton Arena for the game can watch and listen live online. Streaming video is available through AmericaONE and live audio of the game is available throughStocktonThunder.com or on Spreaker.com.

The Thunder (8-4-0-1) is coming off an impressive offensive display at home when it beat the San Francisco Bulls 5-1 on Wednesday night. The Thunder roared to life in the first period, smacking a season-high 18 shots on goal in the opening frame. James Henry and Landon Oslanski both scored for the Thunder to give the team a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room. For Oslanski, 21, it was the first professional goal.

Alternate captain Ryan Constant scored his first of the year in the second period to prematurely end the night for Bulls' starting goalie J.P. Anderson. In the third, Matt Bergland and Henry added tallies past back-up Tyler Beskorowany to build a 5-0 lead. San Francisco's Rob Linsmayer scored late in the game to end the shutout bid for Thunder goaltender Brian Foster, who still moved to 7-0-0-1 on the season with the victory.

The Thunder hope to build on Wednesday night's win and they'll look to an offense that has been spread up and down the lineup. There are 10 players on the active roster who have 6 points or more and only three skaters who have yet to register their first point. The Thunder has a tie for team lead in goals between Andrew Clark, Ryan Hayes and Henry with 5 apiece.

Hayes also leads the team in assists (12) and points (17). Despite his call up to the AHL, Brayden Irwin has picked up right where he left off as he has registered a point per game in his 6 appearances for the Thunder. The only other players to put up point per game numbers for the Thunder this season are Hayes (13 games and 17 points) and J.P. Burkemper (2 games and 2 points).

Tonight is the third meeting between Stockton and Utah this season as the Thunder hosted the Grizzlies for a two-game set at the beginning of November during the team's "Thunder Goes Pink VIII" event. The Thunder rallied for a 3-2 win in game one by scoring its first third period goals of the season to overcome a 2-1 second intermission deficit. In game two, the Thunder's offense boomed hanging a season-high six goals on Utah netminders Aaron Dell and Ben Meisner in a 6-1 Stockton triumph. Six different Thunder players scored as the team completed the weekend sweep.

Since that series, Utah has gone 3-3-0-0 over its next six games, picking up two wins over the Ontario Reign and a win over the Colorado Eagles. The team pulled the trigger on a big trade as well, bringing in forwards Mathieu Aubin and Michael Pelech, both former NHL draft picks, from the Cincinnati Cyclones in exchange for future considerations.

Utah is led offensively by forward David Vallorani who has 9 points off 2 goals and 7 assists. Behind him is Adam Pineault with 1 goal and 7 assists. Both players had pretty good outings against the Thunder during the teams' two meetings. Vallorani posted 1 goal and 2 assists while Pineault had 3 helpers in the losses. The Grizzlies leading scorer is still Jamie MacQueen with six goals, despite the forward having been called up to the AHL with Norfolk after just the sixth game of the season. Rylan Galiardi is the team's current leading scorer with 4 goals from six games.

Tonight's game is the first of three this weekend as part of the Thunder's "Share Your Thanksgiving" promotion. Fans can receive $1 off the price of their ticket for each canned food item they donate at the Stockton Arena, up to a minimum ticket price of $7 (glass, club and suite level seats are excluded and cannot be combined with other offers). All donations will benefit the Emergency Food Bank and Family Services of Stockton/San Joaquin. Season ticket holders can also donate and will receive one entry per canned food item into a raffle to win the use of a suite at an upcoming Thunder game. For more information, visit StocktonThunder.com.

Today is also the final day for fans to cast their vote for the MeiGray Fantasy Team Ballot. Fans have the opportunity to vote for players to comprise the 2013-14 Fantasy Team, of which, one player from the Thunder will be selected to wear a special ECHL Fantasy Team jersey on January 18th. Cast your ballot for Garet Hunt, Ryan Constant, Nathan Deck or write in your favorite Thunder player. Voting closes at 8:59 PST tonight.



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