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Thunder Visit Ontario in Battle for First

November 27, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder (@StocktonThunder), proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders and the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, head south for their first trip of the season to Ontario for a match-up with the first place Reign today. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m. at Citizens Bank Arena.

Fans can watch and listen live online. Streaming video is available through AmericaONE and live audio of the game is available through StocktonThunder.com or on Spreaker.com. Fans can also head over to the Thunder's "Home Away From Home" the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel to watch the game and enjoy special Thunder food and drink specials.

The Thunder (11-4-0-1) have 23 points on the season good for second place in the Pacific Division behind only Ontario's (10-2-1-3) 24 points. With a victory, the Thunder would leapfrog the Reign to take possession of both first place in the division standings as well as the Western Conference standings.

The teams have met twice before this year with the Reign emerging victorious both times at Stockton Arena by scores of 4-2 and 4-1, the latter being tied for the worst loss the Thunder has suffered this season.

The Thunder do have momentum on their side though as the team is in the midst of a four-game winning streak, their longest of the season. The Thunder negotiated a tough stretch of games with four contests in five days last week including three games in three days, winning all of them. The Thunder started the week with a victory over a Pacific Division rival, the San Francisco Bulls. After that, came match-ups with two teams from the Mountain Division as the Thunder dispatched the Utah Grizzlies on Friday night before sweeping the Idaho Steelheads on Saturday and Sunday in a rematch of last year's Western Conference Final.

The last game was a thrilling 4-3 overtime win for the Thunder as forward Andrew Clark scored his team-leading 6th goal of the year in the extra frame. It was the second overtime winner of the season for Clark who earned the Thunder two points in their only other overtime finish, against the Colorado Eagles on November 8th.

The Thunder also got some great performances out of goalie Brian Foster. The 26-year-old netminder won all 3 games he played in and was named the CCM ECHL Goalie of the Week for his efforts. Besides a 3-0-0-0 record, Foster also posted a .954 save percentage and allowed just four goals for a 1.33 goals against average. He now leads the ECHL in save percentage with a season mark of .943 while he is tied for the league-lead in wins with 9.

The Thunder will also hope that it may fare better against the Reign who will be without team leading scorer Dan DaSilva who has been called up to the AHL by the Worcester Sharks. DaSilva had 4 points off 2 goals and 2 assists in the two games against the Thunder this season.

Currently the Reign are led by captain Derek Couture (13 points), forwards Mario Lamoureux (8 points) and Matt White (8 points) as well as defenseman Jake Newton (8 points), all four of whom have scored goals against the Thunder this season. Much like the Thunder, the Reign have also gotten solid play from their goaltender, Michael Hutchinson. The 23-year-old from Barrie, Ontario is one spot behind Brian Foster in both goals against average and wins on the ECHL goalie leaders list.

This game is the first of a home-and-home series between the two sides. After tonight's contest at Citizens Bank Arena, the two teams head north to Stockton to face-off once again on Friday, November 29th. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The first 2,000 fans through the door will receive Stockton Thunder team photos. The contest is the Thunder's final home game in November and last home game until December 15th as the team embarks on a five-game road trip after it.



ECHL Stories from November 27, 2013


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