Thunder takes ECHL's last perfect record into six-game road-trip

Published on November 6, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: (all times PT)

at PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS (Tuesday, Nov. 7 * 6:11 p.m.)

The Thunder returns to the road with Tuesday's matchup against the Phoenix RoadRunners (ECHL Phoenix Coyotes affiliate) at U.S. Airways Center, completing a "home-and-home" style series against Phoenix and marking the beginning of a six-game road trip. The Thunder has won the last three meetings against Phoenix dating back to last season, and has a 5-2-0 all-time record in two seasons against Phoenix. It is the second of six matchups between the teams this season, with game number one going the Thunder's way in a come-from-behind 3-2 victory last Saturday at Stockton Arena.

at IDAHO STEELHEADS (Fri. * Sun., Nov. 10-12; 6:10 p.m. Saturday; 3:10 p.m. Sunday)

The six-game road trip continues with a three-game series beginning Saturday against the Idaho Steelheads, an ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. Despite both teams playing in separate divisions, no team faces the Thunder more this season than Idaho, with Friday's game marking the first of 10 meetings between both teams this season. The Thunder and Idaho will also face each other five times in the ensuing nine games. Stockton is searching for its first all-time team win against Idaho, after being swept in all five games against Idaho in 2005-06.

Thunder games can be heard live on the internet (free-of-charge) and are available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" fare at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Thunder broadcaster Mike Benton will provide play-by-play commentary, with the pre-game show beginning 5:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2:55 p.m. on Sunday.

In addition, Valley Brew Family Restaurant continues its first season as official host of the Thunder Viewing Parties (via B2 Networks' "Bar and Pub Network") for all road games, with prizes, broadcast-interactive contests, player appearances and more scheduled for all road games this week.

Located at 157 W. Adams Street in Stockton, Valley Brew Family Restaurant is placed in the heart of Stockton's "Miracle Mile" district and features an array of acclaimed burgers, beverages, appetizers, specialties and more, offering customers free wi-fi internet access inside the restaurant.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

o Stephen Slonina is 6 games away of 200 in his ECHL career, and 4 shy 200 in his professional career

o Tim Verbeek is 7 assists shy of 100 and 1 game shy of 300 in his professional career

TEAM NOTES:

o Rookie right wing Stephane Goulet scored his first professional goal (game-winner) and added an assist in his debut with Stockton, in the Thunder's 3-2 win versus Long Beach on Friday

o Rookie goaltender Devan Dubnyk is a perfect 4-0-0 in four games and ranks second in the ECHL with a .948 save percentage

o Stockton is the last remaining team in the ECHL with a perfect record (5-0-0), is on a team-record five-game winning streak and has tied the team record with a five-game unbeaten streak

o Defenseman Beau Geisler has scored four points (1g-3a) in the last three games

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, November 3
STOCKTON 3 vs. Long Beach 2

Rookie right wing Stephane Goulet a goal and an assist while rookie goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped 33 shots, as the Thunder held off the Long Beach Ice Dogs for a 3-2 victory in front of 6,936 at Stockton Arena on Saturday, in the first game of "Thunder Goes Pink" Weekend. All five goals were scored on the power-play, while Goulet scored his first goal of his professional career.

Saturday, November 4
STOCKTON 3 vs. Phoenix 2

Jeff Lang's first goal of the season at the 12:48 mark of the third period broke a 2-2 tie, lifting the Stockton Thunder to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 8,209 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday, finishing "Thunder Goes Pink" Weekend. Lang's power-play tally capped a three-goal third period rally and came just 37 seconds after Tim O'Connell beat RoadRunners goaltender Josh Tordjman with a point-shot to square the contest at two. The Thunder tied an all-time team mark with a five-game unbeaten streak.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"Going into the third period, everyone in the locker room was still confident. The guys still thought we'd win the game. We just expect to win."

* Defenseman Jeff Lang, who scored a third period, game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-2 win against Phoenix

"That was a really long 14 seconds."

* Goaltender Devan Dubnyk, after the Thunder's 3-2 win against Long Beach last Friday, which included a Long Beach 6-on-3 skating situation in the last 14 seconds of the game

"It brought us way closer. It does that. It gives you much more appreciation of health and family, the things you sometimes take for granted. When you come that close to losing one of the most important people in your life, you appreciate every minute with them."

* Dubnyk on his mother Barbara, who was a recent survivor of breast cancer (November 4 story "Dubnyk has extra motivation to survive late stand" published during "Thunder Goes Pink" Weekend)

THUNDER OVERALL RECORD: 5-0-0 LAST WEEK: 2-0-0

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