Showing posts with label Playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Playoffs. Show all posts

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Stockton Thunder Drop Conference Finals Opener / A Game Recap / Game 2 Goes Tonight


04/30/2010 8:20 PM

GETTING WARMER ...
Thunder drop Conference Finals opener despite two-goal rally

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FINAL STATS: BOX SCORE
AUDIO: Game highlights
AUDIO: Matt Thomas postgame comments


BOISE, Idaho - Veteran Marty Flichel's three points (1g-2a) and Richard Bachman's 29 saves were enough to thwart a late comeback by the Stockton Thunder, who dropped a 4-2 loss to the Idaho Steelheads in Game 1 of the National Conference Final of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs at Qwest Arena on Friday.

The Thunder, who outshot Idaho, 31-22 and scored twice in the last 31 minutes of play to climb out of a 4-0 hole, dropped their first road defeat in the postseason since Game 1 of the first round at Alaska, snapping a four-game road win streak. Matt Robinson and Ryan Constant scored for the Thunder, while Bryan Pitton stopped all 11 shots he saw after replacing Andrew Perugini in the second period.

STOCKTON VS. IDAHO - NATIONAL CONFERENCE FINALS
Game 1: Stockton 2 at Idaho 4
Game 2: Stockton at Idaho - Saturday, May 1 - 6:10 p.m. (Qwest Arena)
Game 3: Idaho at Stockton - Wednesday, May 5 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 4: Idaho at Stockton - Friday, May 7 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 5: Idaho at Stockton - Saturday, May 8 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *
Game 6: Stockton at Idaho - Tuesday, May 11 - 6:10 p.m. (Qwest Arena) *
Game 7: Stockton at Idaho - Wednesday, May 12 - 6:10 p.m. (Qwest Arena) *
* If necessary

"We dug ourselves a hole, but let's call a spade a spade," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "They got two bounce goals - one off a skate and another from a bounce off the boards. That's the difference. It wasn't nearly our best game of the playoffs, but there's a lot of positives we take out of it. I like the way we played. I can walk away from this game feeling like we're potentially in a good spot."

Idaho built a 2-0 lead after the first period on successive power-play goals, beginning with Mark McCutcheon's snap shot from off the rush with 4:02 into the game when he converted off Marty Flichel's drop pass from between the circles.

Flichel then notched his first goal of the postseason with 5:53 left in the period when his slow rolling slap shot at the left circle caromed off traffic and re-directed past the left pad of Perugini.

McCutcheon snuck a wrist shot past Perugini's glove from the short side just 45 seconds into the second to hike the Idaho lead to 3-0, and an errant bounce off a dump-in by Guillaume Monast, which trickled behind Perugini, found Mathieu Tousignant alone at the front for a 4-0 Thunder hole with 10:58 left in the second period.

After the Thunder replaced Perugini with Bryan Pitton, a Robinson second-chance rebound found its way through Richard Bachman's five hole after James Bates connected with Robinson on an out-numbered attack, closing the gap to 4-1 with 9:27 left in the period.

The Thunder continued to benefit off a tightened game after the Robinson goal and drew to within a 4-2 deficit on Constant's third goal of the postseason with 10:31 left in the game. Constant kept in a clearing attempt at the left point and drilled a wrist shot through traffic while Garet Hunt set a screen in front of Bachman.

Idaho closed out the game by picking up their third home victory of the postseason.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Riley Emmerson (inactive list), Brett Hemingway (inactive list), Trevor Hunt (inactive list), Justin DaCosta (healthy) and Kelly Czuy (injury, day-to-day) ... the Thunder fell to 4-3 in lifetime in Game 1 situations ... Stockton was kept to an 0-for-4 clip on the power-play and Idaho converted at 2-for-6 ... the Thunder fell to 0-3 in the last three playoff games at Qwest Arena, dating back to 2007.

The Thunder will square off against the Steelheads for Game 2 of the National Conference Final series tomorrow at Qwest Arena at 6:10 p.m. Both teams take the series to Stockton Arena, beginning with Game 3, on Wednesday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m.The game can be heard and viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

Tickets for Thunder home playoff games are available by calling (209) 373-1700 or by visiting http://www.stocktontickets.com/

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2010-11 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/

THREE STARS:
1. IDH - 14 Mark McCutcheon
2. IDH - 16 Marty Flichel
3. IDH - 31 Richard Bachman

Friday, April 30, 2010

Stockton Thunder GAME PREVIEW: Game On(e)!



04/30/2010 12:00 AM
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#6 STOCKTON THUNDER at #1 IDAHO STEELHEADS


GAME 1 - NATIONAL CONFERENCE FINAL
April 30, 2010 - Qwest Arena
FACEOFF: 6:10 p.m.


WATCH PARTY: Stockton Arena (King's Room)
RADIO: None (Online only)
INTERNET: http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ (B2 Networks)


NATIONAL CONFERENCE FINAL
Game 1: Stockton at Idaho - Friday, Apr. 30 - 6:10 p.m.
Game 2: Stockton at Idaho - Saturday, May 1 - 6:10 p.m.
Game 3: Idaho at Stockton - Wednesday, May 5 - 7:00 p.m.
Game 4: Idaho at Stockton - Friday, May 7 - 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Idaho at Stockton - Saturday, May 8 - 7:30 p.m. *
Game 6: Stockton at Idaho - Tuesday, May 11 - 6:10 p.m. *
Game 7: Stockton at Idaho - Wednesday, May 12 - 6:10 p.m. *
* If necessary

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP
The sixth-seeded Thunder, opens its first trip to the National Conference Finals tonight against the first-seeded Idaho Steelheads (second meeting in the playoffs, first since 2007) at Qwest Arena, a best-of-seven series that follows a "2-3-2" format. The series features two players with NHL playing experience (Colin Hemingway, St. Louis Blues and Bryan Young, Edmonton Oilers). It marks the Thunder's fourth straight playoff appearance and four in five seasons since joining the ECHL. The Steelheads are in their seventh straight playoff appearance and return to the Conference Finals the first time since 2007, when they eventually won their second Kelly Cup championship. Stockton won its second rounds series, 4-1 over Bakersfield and Idaho swept Utah in four games.

GOING FOR THE GOLD
The Stockton Thunder are asking all fans in attendance for Thunder home Kelly Cup Playoff games at Stockton Arena to "go gold" and wear gold clothing similar to the color in the Thunder uniform scheme. The Thunder, who ranked third in ECHL attendance this season and drew over 6,000 fans per game for the fifth consecutive season, will roll out exclusive playoff merchandise including playoff rally towels, collectible playoff pucks and gold bandanas. Special gold playoff t-shirts will be on sale at all home games in the Stockton Arena "Fan Attic" and all in-arena merchandise locations.

SECOND ROUND RECAP: THUNDER PLUCKS CONDORS
The Thunder advanced to the National Conference Finals for the first time in club history, defeating the Bakersfield Condors, 4-1 in the best-of-seven series in the National Conference Semifinals ... the Thunder won two games in overtime at Rabobank Arena and became the first team to hand back-to-back losses in two nights to the Condors, in Bakersfield, since Idaho on Jan. 29-30 ... J.F. Caudron and Oren Eizenman had the overtime winners and Eizenman led the Thunder in scoring for the series with six points (3g-3a) in five games... Stockton defeated Bakersfield, 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 at Rabobank Arena with Caudron's overtime winner with 9:42 left ... Kelly Czuy tied the game with less than three minutes left in regulation ... Eizenman's OT winner with 10:59 left, the next night, lifted the Thunder to a 2-0 series lead in a 4-3 victory at Rabobank Arena ... in Game 3, J.P. Levasseur shut out the Thunder with 35-save shutout in a 3-0 Bakersfield win at Stockton Arena ... the Thunder struck back with Matt Robinson's playoff career-high three points (1g-2a) in a 6-2 victory over Bakersfield at Stockton Arena in Game 4, seizing a 3-1 series lead ... in Game 5, Eizenman's pair of assists, along with 14 skaters hitting the scoresheet, helped the Thunder eliminate Bakersfield in a 7-4 win at Stockton Arena, winning the series 4-1 ... Stockton bursted with a four-goal third period and Colin Hemingway registered the eventual game-winning goal.

FIRST ROUND RECAP: THUNDER FLUSHES ACES
The Thunder advanced to the second round for the second straight season, defeating the Alaska Aces, 3-1 in the best-of-five series in the National Conference Quarterfinals ... the Thunder became the first team in ECHL history to eliminate Alaska in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs ... Kelly Czuy had three straight multi-point games and Oren Eizenman led the Thunder series scoring with nine assists ... Defenseman B.J. Crum scored back-to-back goals, including the game-winner with 2:51 left in regulation to snap a 3-3 tie and help the Aces rally in a third period comeback, defeating the Thunder, 4-3 in Game 1 at Wasilla, Alaska ... a four goal effort in the third period, stamping a string of three unanswered goals, helped the Stockton Thunder sink the host the Alaska Aces in a 5-2 victory in Game 2 - J.F. Caudron had the game-winning goal ... All-star center Chris D'Alvise scored two goals and added an assist, Andrew Perugini made 39 saves and the Stockton Thunder scored a playoff club record five goals in the third period, en route to a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Alaska Aces in Game 3 at Stockton Arena ... the Thunder, who took a 2-1 series lead, scored five times in a span of 6:42 in the third period ... the Thunder erased two separate two-goal deficits in the first period and scored six unanswered goals, led by James Bates' four points (1g-3a) and a pair of goals by Matt Robinson, eliminating Alaska in a 8-5 victory in Game 4 at Stockton Arena ... ten different Thunder players hit the scoresheet and Andrew Perugini made 40 saves in net.

SEASON SERIES: STOCKTON VS. IDAHO
The Thunder was 2-9-1 this season against Idaho and last faced the Steelheads on Jan. 2 ... Stockton went 2-1-0 in the last three games against the Steelheads - all at Qwest Arena ... the Thunder have added seven new players to the roster since the two teams last met at Stockton Arena on Nov. 28 ... the teams opened the regular season with a three-game series in Boise and the Steelheads completed a three-game sweep with a 3-2 win on Oct. 18 ... the Thunder dropped a 2-1 shootout loss at Stockton Arena in the next meeting on Nov. 13 ... Idaho won, 4-2 the next evening on Evan Barlow's pair of goals ... Idaho finished a three-game sweep of the series in Stockton the next evening, 3-1 behind Richard Bachman's 20 saves ... Idaho followed by a three-game sweep of the Thunder, at Stockton Arena on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27-28 ... the Thunder snapped Idaho's nine-game win streak in the series with a 5-1 victory at Qwest Arena on Dec. 31, behind Chris D'Alvise's pair of goals and Bryan Pitton's 40 saves ... Idaho won, 5-1 on New Year's Day behind Sergei Korostin's pair of goals ... the next evening, the Thunder closed out the regular season series with another 5-1 triumph over the host Steelheads - Andrew Perugini made 39 stops and Oren Eizenman led the offense with a two-goal effort ... Stockton was lifted into a tie for second place in the Pacific Division with the victory.

THUNDER CROWDS ROLL IN
The Thunder ranks second in ECHL playoff attendance with an average of 4,433 fans per game and recently completed the regular season third in the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,031 fans per game, marking the fifth straight season that an average of 6,000 fans have crossed the Stockton Arena turnstiles. On Jan. 30, the Thunder drew 9,158 fans to Stockton Arena against Victoria, the second largest home crowd this year. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance last year with an average of 6,218 fans through 36 home games. Stockton has 14 sellouts in the team's franchise history and drew a standing room only crowd of 9,392 on Nov. 8 vs. Alaska. Last year, the Thunder became the first team since 2004-05 to lead the ECHL in attendance for four straight seasons (Florida led the ECHL in attendance for five straight seasons - 2000-05).

THUNDER PLAYOFF NOTES
It is the second time the Thunder are meeting the Idaho Steelheads in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the first since 2007 when Idaho defeated Stockton, 4-2 in the National Conference Quarterfinals. The Thunder has advanced to the National Conference Finals for first time in franchise history and last year, played hockey into the month of May for the first time in team history, losing in seven games to the Las Vegas Wranglers, in the Pacific Division Final (second round). The Thunder achieved its first playoff series win in club history by defeating the Ontario Reign, 4-3, which included five one-goal games. In 2007-08, the Thunder was defeated by Las Vegas, 4-2 in six games of the National Conference Quarterfinal and was defeated, 4-2 to the eventual Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads in the quarterfinal round in 2006-07. Six players remain from last year's Thunder playoff team.

BREAKDOWN: THUNDER ALL-TIME RECORD BY GAME ONE

DATE ROUND OPP. LOCATION SCORE OT GOALIES (STK/opp) GWG
Apr. 10, 2007 NQF Idaho Qwest Arena W, 4-2 - Dubnyk/Silverthorn Tim Sestito
Apr. 11, 2008 NQF Las Vegas Orleans Arena W, 4-2 - Boron/Lalande Jonas Almtorp
Apr. 10, 2009 PSF Ontario CB Bank Arena L, 3-4 - Perugini-PITTON/Zatkoff Shawn Germain
Apr. 24, 2009 PF Las Vegas Stockton Arena W, 4-3 - Van Buskirk/Fisher-DeCARO Cory Urquhart
Apr. 5, 2010 NQF Alaska Menard Center L, 3-4 - Perugini/Sauer B.J. Crum
Apr. 16, 2010 NSF Bakersfield Rabobank Arena W, 3-2 10:18 Perugini/Levasseur J.F. Caudron
All-time game one record: 4-2

SECOND HALF SWING
After beginning the season 5-11-3 and 1-6-3 on their own home ice, the Thunder roared back after the start of December to finish with a swing of 28-19-7 overall and 16-6-4 at Stockton Arena, at one point moving to a tie for first place in the Pacific Division with Bakersfield in the final week of the regular season. A multiple number of milestones were reached or neared in helping the Thunder secure its fourth straight Kelly Cup Playoff berth:

James Bates, 73 points (tied Thunder single-season record - Ryan Huddy, 08-09)
Chris D'Alvise, 34 goals (one shy of tying Thunder single-season record)
Andrew Perugini, 22 wins (career-high, two win shy of tying single-season record)
Wins, 33 (second highest in Thunder history)
Wins - road, 16 (one shy of tying Thunder single-season record)

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?
The Thunder has one player (captain J.F. Caudron) and head coach Matt Thomas with pro championship experience - Caudron helped guide the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup championship title in 2003, the same team that had Thomas as assistant coach. Additionally, veteran right wing Colin Hemingway (Alaska, 2008-09), right wing Brett Hemingway (Alaska, 2008-09) and right wing Kelly Czuy (Las Vegas, 2007-08) have helped guide their former respective teams to appearances in the Kelly Cup Finals.

Below is a list of the top-5 Thunder players who have the most pro playoff experience in games:

PLAYER - GAMES
KELLY CZUY - 51
J.F. CAUDRON - 40
MATT ROBINSON - 31
DARYL MARCOUX - 29
COLIN HEMINGWAY - 26

ALL TIME PLAYOFF SCORING (Thunder active players)
# Player GP G A PTS
12 J.F. Caudron 40 23 20 43
34 Kelly Czuy 51 16 23 39
20 Colin Hemingway 26 10 18 28
28 James Bates 22 7 17 24
9 Oren Eizenman 15 7 13 20

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Stockton Thunder Up 3-1 In Series / Game 4 Recap

04/23/2010 9:27 PM

THREE'S COMPANY
Robinson's three points help Thunder take 3-1 series lead, put Bakersfield on brink of elimination
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FINAL STATS: BOX SCORE
VIDEO: Highlights and postgame locker room reaction
AUDIO: Game highlights




STOCKTON, Calif. - Matt Robinson scored a playoff career-high three points (1g-2a), helping the Stockton Thunder turn in a wire-to-wire lead and sink the Bakersfield Condors in a 6-2 victory in Game 4 of the National Conference Semifinals of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before 4,932 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday night.

Stockton took a 3-1 lead in the series, put Bakersfield on the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven set and can advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in club history with a win as early as Saturday at Stockton Arena in Game 5.

Robinson, who turned in his postseason best just one game after sitting out as a healthy scratch, helped the Thunder spur a four-goal rally in the second period. Oren Eizenman, Bryan Young, Chris D'Alvise, Jason Pitton and Matt Marquardt chipped in with a goal and Andrew Perugini posted a 27 save-effort to improve to 6-2 in the playoffs.

Garet Hunt also chipped in with a pair of assists - his first came on Young's game-winning goal.

STOCKTON VS. BAKERSFIELD - NATIONAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Game 1: Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 2 (OT)
Game 2: Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 3 (OT)
Game 3: Bakersfield 3 at Stockton 0
Game 4: Bakersfield 2 at Stockton 6
Game 5: Bakersfield at Stockton - Saturday, April 24 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 6: Stockton at Bakersfield - Tuesday, Apr. 27 - 7:00 p.m. (Rabobank Arena) *
Game 7: Stockton at Bakersfield - Wednesday, Apr. 28 - 7:00 p.m. (Rabobank Arena) *
* If necessary

"There were so many players who deserved the player of the game honor we usually award in our dressing room after the game," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "It was a great effort by the collective bunch and from the Bryan Youngs to the Matt Robinsons to the Garet Hunts, everyone committed to a full, physical effort tonight and they were rewarded with it. There were many things we have to take from tonight's game into Game 5 because we know it will be the toughest one so far."
Oren Eizenman was named first star of the game with a goal and assist, parlaying an all-around effort.
(photo by George Steckler)

The Thunder came out flying in the opening period with a furious physical forecheck and outshot the Condors, 8-2 in the first several minutes. Capping off the effort, Robinson's third goal of the playoffs put the Thunder ahead, 1-0 when he corralled James Bates' centering pass and whistled a snap shot past J.P. Levasseur from between the circles with 59.7 seconds left.

A four-goal outburst in the second period powered the Thunder to a 5-1 advantage, using two separate pairs of goals around Bakersfield's only tally in the period. Eizenman took J.F. Caudron's relay and seared a wrist shot over Levasseur's glove for a breakaway goal just 53 seconds into the period, hiking the lead to 2-0.

Young crashed the net on a rebound produced by a shot from Hunt, in close and boosted the lead to 3-0 with 15:14 left in the period. A third-chance rebound though by Stephane Goulet put Bakersfield on the board, trailing 3-1 with 7:04 elapsed in the period.

The Thunder continued their relentless forecheck game and D'Alvise restored the three-goal cushion when he slipped a loose puck from nearly at the right goal line with 10:05 remaining for his first goal of the series.

Pitton finished off a collective successful forecheck when he stole a pass at the right circle and zipped a wrist shot through Levasseur's five-hole with 59.8 seconds left, boosting the lead to 5-1 after Hunt leveled Ken Morin with a check in the right corner.

In a more controlled, conservative pace in the third period, the Thunder maintained their margin through the first several minutes but allowed Bakersfield to get no closer than a three-goal cushion. Eric Regan's power-play goal cut the lead to 5-2 with 9:53 left in the third period when he buried a loose puck from the right circle into an open net.

Bakersfield pulled Levasseur for an extra attacker on a power-play with three minutes remaining but the Thunder put on the finishing touches with Marquardt's empty-net goal with 1:10 left in the game.

Levasseur, who was the first Bakersfield goaltender to start two consecutive games, took the loss with 18 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Riley Emmerson (inactive list), Brett Hemingway (inactive list), Trevor Hunt (inactive list), Justin DaCosta (healthy) and Kelly Czuy (injury, day-to-day) ... the Thunder improved to 4-2, lifetime in Game 4 situations ... Robinson's first period goal was the first time the Thunder scored the first goal of the game in the entire postseason ... only two infractions (a pair of fighting majors to Igor Gongalsky and Sasha Pokulok in the first period) were called through two periods and Stockton never had a power-play in the game ... the Thunder improved to 3-1 at home in this year's playoffs.

The Thunder can wrap up the series at Stockton Arena with a victory on Saturday in Game 5, facing Bakersfield beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard and viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge). Tickets for Thunder home playoff games are available by calling (209) 373-1700 or by visiting www.StocktonTickets.com.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

THREE STARS:
1. STK - 9 Oren Eizenman
2. STK - 71 Matt Robinson
3. STK - 24 Garet Hunt


Sunday, April 18, 2010

The Stockton Thunder Win Game 2 / Up 2-0 In Series Over Bakersfield / A Game Recap


04/17/2010 11:54 PM -
ANOTHER HERO MAKES IT 2-0
Eizenman leads with pair of goals, scores OT winner, Thunder take series home with 2-0 lead

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FINAL STATS: LINK TO BOX SCORE
AUDIO: Game highlights

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Oren Eizenman scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 10:59 left in sudden death overtime, to lead the Stockton Thunder to their second straight comeback victory in overtime in a 4-3 win over the Bakersfield Condors in the National Conference Semifinals of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs, before 4,827 at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night.

The Thunder, who took a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven series over the second-seeded Condors with the series moving to Stockton for Game 3 next Wednesday, were aided by Andrew Perugini's 41 stops while Ryan Constant and J.F. Caudron added a goal each, helping Stockton come-from-behind in three separate one-goal deficits.

STOCKTON VS. BAKERSFIELD - NATIONAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Game 1: Stockton 3 at Bakersfield 2 (OT)
Game 2: Stockton 4 at Bakersfield 3 (OT)
Game 3: Bakersfield at Stockton - Wednesday, April 21 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 4: Bakersfield at Stockton - Friday, April 23 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 5: Bakersfield at Stockton - Saturday, April 24 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *
Game 6: Stockton at Bakersfield - Tuesday, Apr. 27 - 7:00 p.m. (Rabobank Arena) *
Game 7: Stockton at Bakersfield - Wednesday, Apr. 28 - 7:00 p.m. (Rabobank Arena) *
* If necessary


Oren Eizenman led the Thunder with a pair of goals and scored the first OT winner of the playoffs in his career.
(photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin)

"We knew Bakersfield was going to push; we did a good job withstanding it and responding by pushing back," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "Once again I say that I'm proud of these guys. They came from behind in of the toughest buildings to play in the entire league and found a way to win two road games in overtime. That's what successful teams in the playoffs have to do and we proved again that we're capable of doing that."

Bakersfield took a 2-1 lead after one period while the Thunder lost 31-goal scorer Matt Robinson to a game misconduct on a five-minute boarding penalty early on Stephane Goulet, but Stockton killed off the entire penalty. Goulet would not return.

Sasha Pokulok got the Condors on the board, 1-0 with a wrist shot from the left point that caromed off traffic and zipped past Andrew Perugini's glove with 9:42 remaining.

Following the Robinson ejection and penalty kill, the Thunder quieted the Bakersfield crowd on Caudron's fifth goal of the postseason with 3:54 left.

Yet, a Ryan Menei power-play goal, after he hit a post on an open net for the second straight game, put Bakersfield ahead again, 2-1 when stuffed the rebound over a fallen Perugini.

Stockton roared back with a pair of goals in the second to tie the game, 3-3 at the end of two periods. Constant drilled a slapshot from the left point that snuck by Timo Pielmeier through traffic for a 2-2 tie with 9:23 left in the frame.

Just 2:10 later, Maxime Macenauer was awarded his first goal of the postseason when he converted off a jam play at the front the net, restoring Bakersfield's lead.

Yet, the Thunder responded with a power-play goal coming with 29.6 seconds remaining off an Eizenman rebound to level the score 3-3. Eizenman put the rebound past Pielmeier after Anthony Aiello's drive from the left point deflected off a Kelly Czuy screen at the front of the goal.

Both teams battled through a scoreless third period, with Perugini logging 12 saves and Pielmeier stopping 13 shots.

Following a series of back-and-forth scoring chances, Eizenman planted a backhander through the five hole of Pielmeier with 9:01 gone in the period after he darted out of the left corner, sending the Thunder flying off the bench in celebration for the second straight game.

Pielmeier, who was making his first appearance in net since Game 3 of the first round against Victoria, took the loss with 38 saves.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Riley Emmerson (inactive list), Brett Hemingway (inactive list), Trevor Hunt (inactive list), Justin DaCosta (healthy) and Colin Hemingway (injury, day-to-day) ... the Thunder have won three of the last four playoff overtime games and improved to 2-0 in overtime in this year's playoffs ... the Thunder improved to 3-3 in Game 2 situations ... the Thunder surrendered the first goal of the game to the opposition for the sixth straight playoff game ... Bakersfield outshot Stockton, 44-42 but the Thunder owned 28-27 edge in the last two periods.

The series moves to Stockton for Game 3 between the Thunder and Condors, starting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 21 at Stockton Arena. The game can be heard and viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge). Tickets for Thunder home playoff games are available by calling (209) 373-1700 or by visiting www.StocktonTickets.com.

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/.

THREE STARS:
1. STK - 9 Oren Eizenman
2. BAK - 32 Ryan Menei
3. STK - 12 J.F. Caudron

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Thunder Even Up Series With Win Over Alaska

04/06/2010 11:18 PM

FIT TO BE TIED
Thunder send series back to Stockton tied, 1-1 in four goal third period rally

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FINAL STATS: BOX SCORE
AUDIO: Game highlights


WASILLA, Alaska - A four goal effort in the third period, stamping a string of three unanswered goals, helped the Stockton Thunder sink the host the Alaska Aces in a 5-2 victory in Game 2 of the National Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs at the Menard Memorial Sports Center on Tuesday.

The Thunder, who tied the best-of-five series, 1-1, return home to Stockton Arena for Game 3 on Friday. Forwards Kelly Czuy (1g-1a), Oren Eizenman (two assists), defensemen Anthony Aiello (1g-1a) and Jordan Bendfeld (two assists) all led the offense with two points apiece while goaltender Andrew Perugini made 28 saves.

STOCKTON VS. ALASKA - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Game 1: Stockton 3 at Alaska 4
Game 2: Stockton 5 at Alaska 2
Game 3: Alaska at Stockton - Friday, April 9 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 4: Alaska at Stockton - Saturday, April 10 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 5: Alaska at Stockton - Monday, April 12 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *
* If necessary


"It's a huge win from the standpoint we needed to come up here and gain a split, giving us a chance going back to our own home ice," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "I'm proud of the guys for how they responded."

The Thunder, who handed Alaska their fourth Game 2 loss in franchise history, improved to 2-3 in Game 2 situations.

Following a scoreless first period where the Thunder owned a 9-5 lead in shots on goal, Alaska responded with several scoring chances in front of Perugini but were thwarted on a diving glove save at the doorstep on the Aces' Jarrett Konkle with over six minutes into the period.

The pressure continued and after Alaska killed a 5-on-3 penalty kill, Ryan Turek sent the partisan crowd into eruption with his first goal of the postseason with 8:41 left when he corralled Brock McBride's feed at the left circle and slipped a wrist shot through traffic for a 1-0 lead.

The Thunder had a breakaway by Kelly Czuy negated on an offside call but continued to press and finally knotted the score, 1-1 on a Czuy shorthanded goal with less than 33.7 seconds left when he blasted a shapshot past Billy Sauer from the right wing.

Marquardt, who had fired eight shots in the game already, finally broke through with his first goal of the postseason to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead and stunning the Aces home crowd with 2:26 gone in the third period when his wrist shot from the right wing beat Sauer off the rush.

A power-play goal by Caudron, who knocked in a rebound at the right goal post, put the Thunder ahead, 3-1 with 13:46 remaining on his second goal of the playoffs after Sauer stopped Czuy's shot from the left circle.

Alaska crawled back into the game on a Bryan Miller goal from between the hash marks just 2:10 later, cutting the deficit to one.

Yet, Stockton restored the two-goal gap with Pitton's first goal of the playoffs, coming with 4:34 left when he re-directed Bendfeld's drive from the right point to the back of the net.

An empty-net goal by Aiello with 24.4 seconds remaining sealed the game, when he hit the back of the net on a 190-foot heave from his own defensive zone, completing the rally.

"We talked about momentum as a team and how it helps you in the playoffs," said Thomas. "We created a ton of it with a great goal at the end of the second. Then we came out with the right energy and had guys like Pitton and Marquardt scoring while our power play steps up. We did the little things that were needed to win and rally from a tie game, on the road, in the third period."

Sauer was tagged with the loss, making 26 saves for Alaska.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Riley Emmerson (inactive list), Brett Hemingway (inactive list), Trevor Hunt (inactive list), Justin DaCosta (healthy) and Colin Hemingway (injury, day-to-day) ... the only other Game 2 win in Thunder history was at Ontario last year, a 6-5 win in the first round - Stockton went onto win the series in seven games ... the Thunder went 1-for-4 on the power-play and kept Alaska sealed at an 0-for-3 clip ... Czuy's multi-point game gave him 19 points in 15 career first rounds games with Stockton and Las Vegas.

The series moves to Stockton Arena for the remainder of the series and game three, between the Thunder and Aces, is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The game can be viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/  

THREE STARS:
1. STK - 34 Kelly Czuy
2. STK - 7 Anthony Aiello
3. STK - 9 Oren Eizenm

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Stockton Thunder Goes For The Kelly Cup / Yesterdays Game 1 Recap


04/05/2010 11:41 PM

FINISHING WITH THE CRUMS
Crum's two goals lifts Alaska to late rally, lead series 1-0

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FINAL STATS: BOX SCORE
AUDIO: Game highlights

WASILLA, Alaska - Defenseman B.J. Crum scored back-to-back goals, including the game-winner with 2:51 left in regulation to snap a 3-3 tie and help the Alaska Aces rally in a third period comeback, defeating the Stockton Thunder, 4-3 in Game 1 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs National Conference Quarterfinal round at the Menard Memorial Sports Center on Monday.

Alaska, who took a 1-0 series lead, were led by Crum's two goals in the game, who mounted half of his three-year career total (4) in just a five-minute span. Kelly Czuy led the Thunder with a goal and assist, while Chris D'Alvise and J.F. Caudron also scored for Stockton.

STOCKTON VS. ALASKA - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Game 1: Stockton 3 at Alaska 4
Game 2: Stockton at Alaska - Tuesday, April 6 - 8:30 p.m. (Menard Memorial Sports Center)
Game 3: Alaska at Stockton - Friday, April 9 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena)
Game 4: Alaska at Stockton - Saturday, April 10 - 7:30 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *
Game 5: Alaska at Stockton - Monday, April 12 - 7:00 p.m. (Stockton Arena) *
* If necessary

"It's pretty evident we're in the playoffs now," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "Territorially, we dominated the game. But we got beat in a nine minute span. We learned we have got to be better when the game is on the line and it counts. We ran around making mistake after mistake and it cost us."

The Thunder rallied from a 2-0 hole with three unanswered goals and at one point, owned a 21-17 shots advantage after two periods.Alaska took a 2-1 edge after one period, beginning on back-to-back goals from T.J. Fast and Jason Ryznar.

Fast drilled a wrist shot from the left wing with 7:17 gone in the game for a power-play goal, and Ryznar followed with a shorthanded goal with 8:45 left when his wrist shot from the right wing snuck through Andrew Perugini's five-hole.

Czuy silenced the partisan crowd just 27 seconds later with a power-play goal to cut the gap to 2-1, taking Oren Eizenman's pass and blasting a slap shot under the crossbar.

The Thunder continued to build on momentum with two goals in the second period, outshooting the Aces 9-6 and taking a 3-2 lead. D'Alvise scored the first playoff goal of his career with 10:43 left in the period when his one-timer beat Billy Sauer from between the circles.

Caudron then struck for a shocking, 60-foot slapshot goal before the buzzer to put the Thunder ahead for the first time of the game, 3-2 with less than three seconds left.

The Thunder continued to apply physical force in the opening minutes of the period but were hemmed in the defensive zone for Crum's tying goal, with 7:04 left in the game, when he took Brock McBride's cross ice pass at the left wing and buried his first of the playoffs from the left circle.

Following a timeout by the Thunder with less than four minutes left, the Aces' Crum notched his second of the game with 2:51 remaining, when his slapshot at the high slot seared its way through traffic after he cradled a Thunder clearing pass.

"The easy thing is to know we weren't going undefeated in the playoffs and learned a valuable lesson in game one," said Thomas. "We learned a lot can happen and we can correct it moving forward."

Perugini took the loss, making 15 saves while counterpart Billy Sauer won in his playoff debut with 18 stops.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Riley Emmerson (inactive list), Brett Hemingway (inactive list), Trevor Hunt (inactive list), Justin DaCosta (healthy) and Colin Hemingway (injury, day-to-day) ... the Thunder fell to 3-2, lifetime in game one contests ... their only other game one loss was to Ontario in last year's first round, 4-3, and Stockton won the seven-game series, 4-3 ... Alaska's leading scorer, Nick Mazzolini, left the game in the first period due to injury when he fell to the ice in a post-whistle altercation with Jordan Bendfeld and did not return.

Game two series is Tuesday at the Menard Center in Wasilla beginning at 8:30 p.m. between Stockton and Alaska. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 KWSX and viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/


THREE STARS:
1. AK - 2 B.J. Crum
2. STK - 34 Kelly Czuy
3. AK - 15 Bryan Miller


*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission from Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey Club, ECHL. The Stockton Thunder are a proud 'AA' affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and Springfield Falcons (AHL) *

Monday, April 5, 2010

Stockton Thunder (ECHL) Go To Playoffs / Final Roster Named


04/05/2010 2:02 PM - Bendfeld reassigned from Springfield; playoff tickets on sale now

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STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, announced the Oilers have reassigned defenseman Jordan Bendfeld to the Thunder from Springfield.

The roster move completes the team's mandatory 24-man playoff roster, which was due to the ECHL league office at Noon PT on Monday (subject to verification by the ECHL league office).

Additionally, it was announced that defenseman Trevor Hunt, right wingers Brett Hemingway and Riley Emmerson have been placed on the playoff inactive list and goaltender Bryce Christianson was signed as an emergency backup goaltender.

Bendfeld, 22, who earned the first recall of his AHL career on Mar. 3, and was selected in the seventh round (193rd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by Edmonton and this season posted an assist and seven penalty minutes in 10 AHL games.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defenseman skated in 52 games for Stockton this regular season, collecting ten assists and 91 penalty minutes.

Through 69 career games with the Thunder, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound defenseman has scored one goal, 12 assists and posted 116 penalty minutes through two seasons (2008-10).

Christianson, 23, competed for the last three seasons (2007-10) in college at the University of Alaska-Anchorage (NCAA), compiling a record of 11-20-4 with a .876 save percentage with two career shutouts.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound goaltender enjoyed a career-best 2.60 GAA, 21 games played and 8-8-4 record as a 2008-09 sophomore.

STOCKTON THUNDER PLAYOFF ROSTER:

Goaltenders (3): Bryce Christianson, Andrew Perugini, Bryan Pitton*

Defensemen (8): Anthony Aiello, Jordan Bendfeld, Ryan Constant, Justin DaCosta, Trevor Hunt, Daryl Marcoux, Steve Vanoosten, Bryan Young

Forwards (13): James Bates, J.F. Caudron, Kelly Czuy, Chris D'Alvise, Oren Eizenman, Riley Emmerson, Igor Gongalsky, Brett Hemingway, Colin Hemingway, Garet Hunt, Matt Marquardt, Jason Pitton, Matt Robinson
* Denotes currently on recall or loan to respective American Hockey League club (AHL)

Game one of the Kelly Cup Playoffs (National Conference Quarterfinal) begins tonight at the Menard Center in Wasilla beginning at 8:30 p.m. between Stockton and Alaska. The game can be heard on radio at 1280 KWSX and viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge).

Kelly Cup Playoff tickets start as low as $9 per seat and range to $28 (Comcast Club). Current Thunder season ticket holders receive tickets to the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in their ticket package. Fans wishing to get priority seating on playoff tickets can do so by placing a deposit on new Thunder season tickets for the 2010-11 season.

The Thunder returns home for game three of the series on Friday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.

A two-time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/ 

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

My Playoff Picks (2nd Round)


Well folks. I did ok with my picks in the 1st round. The only series I was completely correct on was the Hawks/fLames. Either I'm good a guessing or really lucky but the only series I was completely wrong on was the Ducks/Sharks. So much for my pick of SJ in the finals.


According to the pool that I am in, I managed 8 points out of a possible 16. I need to get the amount of games right. On to round two...


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Chicago beats Vancouver in 6

Anaheim beats Detroit in 6

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Boston beats Carolina in 6

Washington beats Pittsburgh in 6

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*fingers crossed*

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

My Playoff Picks (Round #1)


Here are my picks for this 1st round.

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San Jose beats Anaheim in six

Detroit beats Columbus in five

Vancouver beats St. Louis in six

Chicago beats Calgary in six

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Boston beats Montreal in six

Washington beats New York Rangers in six

Carolina beats New Jersey in six

Pittsburgh beats Philadealpia in seven

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I think that it will be a San Jose vs. Washington final. Washington will win it all.

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