 |
| POWER
PLAY |
17TH
- 16.1 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
25TH
- 79.1 |
| FORWARDS |
| LANCE
MONYCH |
32-20-52
(-16) |
| BRANDON
SCHWARTZ |
16-36-52
(-5) |
| RYAN
MacMURCHY |
23-22-45
(+11) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| BRIAN
LEE |
10-24-30
(-13) |
| JOE
DUSTIN |
7-20-27
(-34) |
| TIM
O'CONNELL |
3-13-16
(-9) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| GLENN
FISHER |
14-19-2
(2 SO)
3.36 GA
.903 PCT |
|
| TIM
BORON |
12-17-1
(3 SO)
3.08 GA
.910 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Las
Vegas vs Stockton |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
11 |
STOCKTON
4 - LAS VEGAS
2 |
SEED
8 |
2 |
APR.
12 |
STOCKTON
4 - LAS VEGAS 5 (OT) |
SEED
1 |
27-40-3
(59) |
3 |
APR.
13 |
LAS
VEGAS 3 - STOCKTON
2 |
47-13-5
(106) |
| |
4 |
APR.
18 |
LAS
VEGAS 4 - STOCKTON
3 (OT) |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
20 |
LAS
VEGAS 3 - STOCKTON 6 |
|
| |
6 |
APR.
22 |
STOCKTON
1 - LAS VEGAS 4 |
|
| |
7 |
APR.
23 |
STOCKTON
at LAS VEGAS |
|
| Las Vegas Wins Series 4-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
On Friday April 11th, the first place Wranglers will begin their match up against eighth place Thunder in the National Conference Quarter Finals.
For the Wranglers as this will be their fourth post-season set of games since their inaugural season in 2003-04. The Thunder who are just finishing their third year in Stockton lost in the first round of post-season action last year. The head-to-head match up between the two teams is weighted heavily towards the Wranglers with an overall record against the Thunder of 15-4-1 and a 2007-08 season record of 7-2.
Wrangler’s Captain Peter Ferraro has been a major force against Stockton. Peter led the team with 73 points during regular season, followed by Adam Cracknell and Tyler Mosienko, tied at 59 points apiece. Not to mention the forces that Stockton will have to consider between Brandon Kalenecki and Shawn Limpright. Both players have made scoring against Stockton look easy in past games. Then, there’s goalie Kevin Lalande, ranking second overall in the ECHL with a .932 percent in the net and goals-against average of 2.05. Lalande will be a powerful force in the net for Las Vegas.
The Stockton Thunder has been playing hard during the end of the season, and they are hoping to bring that momentum with them. They clinched their playoff place in their last regular season game, needing one point to put them into post-season with a loss to the Utah Grizzlies in overtime.
The Thunder was the only team in the Edmonton Oilers organization to make the post-season. This provided an opportunity to return six players from the AHL Springfield Falcons to beef up the Stockton roster. Brandon Schwartz and Lance Monych are the point leaders tied at 52 points. Injuries have plagued the Thunder and they left key players Ryan MacMurchy and Joel Stepp off the final roster due to season ending injuries late in the season. In the net goalies Tim Boron and Glenn Fisher shared the net all season. Both are fully capable of holding off anything that Las Vegas has to give them, but some inconsistencies still exist for these young goalies. If they are on their game, they can stop anything.
Games one and two will be in Las Vegas Friday and Saturday, with a quick turn-around back to Stockton on Sunday for game three; then a days rest between the remaining games.
This will be an exciting match-up. The definite underdog is Stockton and they know what they are up against. They want to repay their dedicated fans with great action and make them proud. Stockton fans have had the highest regular season league attendance for the third straight year.
This is where I’m supposed to give my prediction. The statistics and history say the Wranglers in five games (perhaps a sweep in four), but knowing the heart and desire that Stockton is bringing into this game, makes me say Stockton will pull through in seven games. It will go down to the wire, perhaps a nail biting shoot-out in the seventh game. |
|
| Game
1 |
Stockton
4 - Las Vegas 2 |
| by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Stockton
Leads Series 1-0 |
Las
Vegas, NV - The last-seeded Stockton Thunder came from behind to beat the first-seeded Las Vegas Wranglers by a score of 4-2 in the third period. Las Vegas out shot the Thunder 41-22 and controlled the action in the first period. Goalie Tim Boron had a great game, limiting the Wranglers to a single goal in the first period and none in the second. A power-play goal by Jason Jozsa at 7:23 into the game put the Wranglers up 1-0.
The rest of the first period and second period were scoreless. The Thunder rallied in the third period beginning with veteran Tim O’Connell’s tying goal at 3:23, who scored with a slapshot past Wrangler goalie Kevin Lalande. Just 44 seconds later Lance Monych fired another slapshot past Lalande to put the Thunder up 2-1.
Brandon Kaleniecki would tie it up about halfway through the third period with a goal through Boron’s five hole. The Wranglers had an opportunity to tie it up on their fourth power-play but Jonas Almtorp scored the eventual game winning short-handed goal for the Thunder with 4:19 left in the game. Stephane Goulet’s empty net goal would seal the Wrangler’s fate at 1:10 left in the game.
Stockton leads the series at 1-0. Game two is Saturday in Las Vegas’s Orleans Arena at 7:05p.m.
|
|
| Game
2 |
Stockton
4 - Las Vegas 5 (OT) |
| by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 1-1 |
Las
Vegas, NV - In what fans knew would be another exciting game, the first goal of the game came at just 3:08 into the first period by Stockton's Tim O’Connell, his second goal of the playoffs. The Thunder barely finished their celebration when 22 seconds later the Wranglers Aki Seitsonen fired a wrist shot past Thunder goalie Tim Boron. Later in the period, Shawn Limpwright put the Wranglers up 2-1.
Wranglers captain Peter Ferraro would make the first goal of the second period within the first minute, putting Las Vegas up 3-1. But Stockton’s Brandon Schwartz took advantage of a power play when he fired a shot past Kevin Lalande, closing the gap to 3-2.
The Thunder’s Jacob Micflikier was the first to score into the third period, with an assist by Stephane Goulet, to tie the score at 3-3. But again, the Wranglers answered back quickly with Tyler Mosienko’s goal just 32 seconds later. As 3,653 fans cheered the clock into the final minute the Thunder pulled Boron for an extra skater and the strategy paid off with the tying goal coming by Schwartz with just 53 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
Just 28 seconds into sudden-death overtime the Wranglers Ryan Donally would get an assist from Ferraro and Mosienko to feed one past Boron at the doorstep giving the Wranglers their first win of the series with a final score of 5-4.
The Thunder and Wranglers will continue the series when they play game three on Sunday, April 13th at the Stockton Arena at 6 p.m.
|
|
| Game
3 |
Las
Vegas 3 - Stockton 2 |
| by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads 2-1 |
Stockton,
CA - In game three, before 5,053 fans in Stockton Arena, Las Vegas takes it to the final minutes of the game to take the lead in the playoff series 2-1.
In the first period Stockton’s Ryan O’Marra scored his first goal of the series with an assist by Jacob Micflikier and Brad Farynuk putting the Thunder up 1-0. The rest of the period contained five power play opportunities for the Wranglers, but they came up empty.
In the second period, the Wrangler’s Kelly Czuy scored his first play-off goal, with an assist by Adam Cracknell and Mike Madill, tying the score. Halfway into the period, Jacob Micflikier would put one behind goalie Kevin Lalonde, putting the Thunder back on top at 2-1.
 |
The third period resulted in plenty of hard hitting nail-biting action, until the last 1:15 minutes remaining in regulation, when Tyler Mosienko put a shot past Stockton’s goalie Tim Boron, assisted by Ryan Donally and Mike Madill, again tying the game at 2-2. The last minute got exciting for fans, when a questionable possession call came on a delayed penalty, resulting in a potential Stockton goal being waived off. Then the Wranglers Aki Seitsonen scored what became the winning goal with 12 seconds left in regulation, off a Cracknell assist, putting the Wranglers up 3-2.
The Wranglers out-shot the Thunder 47-23 during the game. The three stars of the game were Aki Seitsonen, Ryan O’Marra and Jacob Micflikier.
Game 4 will be played at the Stockton Arena, on Friday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m.
|
|
| Game
4 |
Las
Vegas 4 - Stockton 3 (OT) |
| by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads 3-1 |
Stockton,
CA - At the Stockton Arena, the Stockton
Thunder let a 3-0 lead dwindle away, as the Las Vegas
Wranglers found four unanswered goals, the final in the
last minute of overtime, to take the win at 4-3.
The game began with several good hits; it was obvious
both of these teams wanted this win. Stockton was down
2-1, and needed this win to even the series. Stockton
came on strong early in the match, as has been true for
most of these series. At 3:18 into the period, Jacob Micflikier
scored the first goal, with assists going to Brad Farynuk
and Ryan O’Marra. Then at the 13:53 mark, veteran Tim
O’Connell fired a shot past Kevin Lalande to put the Thunder
up 2-0.
 |
Early into the second period, the Thunder’s Geoff Paukovich
scored on a rebound shot, giving the Thunder a 3-0 lead.
That would prove to be the last of the scoring opportunities
for the Thunder. The last eight minutes of the period
was owned by the Wranglers. With 7:52 left in the period,
Aki Seitsonen found an opening and flipped one in past
Tim Boron. Then less than four minutes later, Ryan Donally
found an opening on a power play opportunity to close
the gap to 3-2.
Wranglers’ Kelly Czuy found a bank shot off of goalie
Tim Boron’s body into the net at 1:32 into the period,
tying the game at 3-3-. The Thunder and their 5,569 fans
in attendance would be devastated with six minutes left
in regulation time, when a goal by Stephane Goulet would
be reversed due to a distinct kicking motion, leading
to sudden-death overtime.
For over 19 minutes both teams pulled out all the stops.
The Thunder had three failed power play opportunities
early in the overtime period. With less than a minute
left on the clock, Jason Krischuck found the net, with
an assist by Adam Cracknell putting the Wranglers up 4-3
ending the game.
Stockton’s Goalie Tim Boron had a playoff record 48 saves
in regulation, but the offense just couldn’t find the
net after giving up three unanswered goals to give him
the win.
Game five will be at the Stockton Arena, at 4:00 p.m.
on Sunday, April 20th. The Thunder will need to win this
game to keep the series alive. A Wranglers win will take
them to the semi-finals against the Alaska Aces.
By: Shellie Lima
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Photos
by: Jack Lima
Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
5 |
Las
Vegas 3 - Stockton 6 |
| by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads 3-2 |
Stockton,
CA - The Stockton Thunder showed their
determination in a much needed win against the Las Vegas
Wranglers to keep the series alive at 3-2. The Thunder
skaters came through with a 6-3 win over the Wranglers,
forcing the series back to Las Vegas for Game 6.
The first period was proof that the Thunder were not going
down without a fight. Just 1:02 into the game, the Thunder
struck early with a goal by Brandon Schwartz (assist by
Tom Zanoski). A quick rebound wrist shot went past the
Wranglers’ Kevin Lalande, putting the Thunder up 1-0.
The Thunder would strike again with a goal by Stephane
Goulet, assisted by Jacob Micflikier and Ryan O’Marra.
The Wranglers answered back within 30 seconds, with a
tip in goal past Stockton’s’ Tim Boron, by Kelly Czuy
with assists from Mike Madill and Bruce Mulherin; putting
the Wranglers back in the game at 2-1.
Stockton scored two more goals before the end of the second
period; Jacob Micflikier, with assists by O’Marra and
Goulet, then just twenty seconds later, a second goal
by Goulet, assisted by Micflikier and O’Marra, put the
Thunder up 4-1. The goal came before the Thunder Arena
announcer was able to finish announcing the previous Thunder
goal to the 4,456 fans.
Following the previous Thunder goal the Wranglers exchanged
goalie Kevin Lalande with back-up Tyler Sims. The change
in goalies would change the Thunder momentum for the rest
of the period. With 6:09 left in the period, Adam Cracknell,
a major force against the Thunder during this series,
slapped the puck through traffic on the right side of
the crease. His goal assisted by Jason Jozsa and Tyler
Mosienko, closing the gap 4-2.
 |
In the second period, the Wranglers’ Sims held the Thunder
scoreless, including four failed power play advantages
due to minor penalties. On a Wrangler power play, about
midway into the period, Cracknell tipped in his second
goal of the night, assisted by captain Peter Ferraro and
Mosienko; putting the Wranglers within a point of the
Thunder.
At 10:02 into the third period, the Thunder’s Micflikier
passed the puck to Ryan O’Marra for a goal, giving the
two goal lead back to the Thunder, and giving them some
breathing room again. Jacob Micflikier had a five point
night, with one goal and four assists, and Ryan O’Marra
followed with a three point night, one goal and three
assists.
At 2:02 left in the game, the Wranglers pulled Sims for
an extra skater that led to an empty net goal by Stephane
Goulet; giving him the Thunder’s first-ever playoff hat-trick
and four points on the night, and the Thunder a three
point lead.
The Stockton Thunder won this vital game with a score
of 6-3, to close the gap in the playoff series to 3-2
in Wrangler’s favor. The Wranglers out-shot the Thunder
with 30–27 shots on goal, but the Thunder’s only net minder
for the series, Tim Boron was able to fend off the Wranglers
offense this time.
This win could have really given the Thunder much needed
momentum, as the Wranglers are forced to take the series
home for Game 6 in Orleans Arena on Tuesday, April 22nd.
A game six Wranglers win would end the series, but a Stockton
win would force a Game 7 in Las Vegas.
By: Shellie Lima
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Photos
by: Jack Lima
Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
6 |
Stockton 1 - Las Vegas 4 |
| by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Wins 4-2 |
Las
Vegas, NV - The Stockton Thunder’s attempt to come back from a 3-2 deficit would have made them only the forth team in an ECHL playoff
series to do so; but it wasn’t to be. The Las Vegas Wranglers showed why they were the first seeded team as they took the win
in Game 6 with a final score of 4-1 in Orleans Arena.
Wranglers goalie Kevin Lalande was nearly flawless in this game. Las Vegas started their offense with a goal at 4:56 of the
first period by Tyler Mosienko and a second goal at 5:27 into the period by Curtis Fraser. Fraser had just returned from the
San Antonio Rampage (AHL) on Monday. The Thunder was out shot by a 2-1 margin during the first period.
In the second period Bruce Mulherin put the puck past Thunder’s goalie Tim Boron on a breakway, with an assist by Adam
Cracknell at 9:43 into the period putting the Wranglers up 3-0. The assist highlighted Cracknell's play as he was a solid
presence on the Wranglers offense all night long. By the end of the period, Boron had made 26 saves compared to Kevin
Lalande’s 15.
The Wranglers played a conservative game during the third period. Lalande proved to be too much for the Thunder, and ended
the game with 32 saves. At 13:25 into the third period Stockton’s Stephane Goulet scored with an assist by Ryan O’Marra to
cut the Wrangler lead 3-1. The Wranglers made their final move when Boron was pulled for an extra skater but Fraser scored an
empty net goal at 19:03 to seal the deal.
The Stockton Thunder played a tremendous series and did not make it easy on the Wranglers. Two of the six games went into
overtime and the other games were only lost by margins of one, with the exception of tonight’s game.
The Wranglers will advance to the next round,of the National Conference Semi-Finals against the Alaska Aces on their way to
the Kelly Cup finals.
By: Shellie Lima
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| POWER
PLAY |
4TH
- 20.5 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
7TH
- 84.4 |
| FORWARDS |
| PETER
FERRARO |
36-37-73
(+25) |
| ADAM
CRACKNELL |
29-30-59
(+12) |
| TYLER
MOSIENKO |
22-37-59
(+12) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| AARON
POWER |
9-27-36
(0) |
| SEAN
OWENS |
5-9-14
(+8) |
| MIKE
MADILL |
4-10-14
(+7) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| DANIEL
MANZATO |
24-5-4
(3 SO)
2.37 GA
.921 PCT |
|
| KEVIN
LALANDE |
17-5-1
(3 SO)
2.05 GA
.932 PCT |
|
|
|
