Thunder Look to Halt Four-Game Winless Streak

The Thunder (11-7-0-2) and Steelheads (10-5-2-2) meet tonight in Boise, Idaho for the second match-up of a three-game set. The Thunder look to avenge a 6-3 loss on Wednesday night and snap a four-game winless streak, the team’s longest of the season. Puck drops at 6:10 pm PST.

Fans can watch the broadcast at the Thunder’s “Home Away From Home” at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel while enjoying Thunder food and drink specials. Live video is available through AmericaONE or fans can listen to free live audio through StocktonThunder.com and Spreaker.com.

The Thunder and Steelheads meet for the fourth time this season in the teams’ rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final. The Thunder won that series 4 games to 1 and started this year’s season series with two straight victories against Idaho at home, including a 4-3 overtime win against the Steelheads on November 24th.

However, that was the last time the Thunder won a game as the team followed up its then four-game winning streak with a four-game winless streak. To make matters worse, the Thunder have given up six goals in both of their last two contests, the most they have allowed in a game all season.

The Thunder fell behind in Wednesday night’s game in Idaho early on as the Steelheads took a 2-0 lead inside the game’s first 10 minutes with goals from defenseman Patrick Cullity and forward William Rapuzzi. The Thunder did bounce back quickly though as they found the back of the net twice in less than a minute. First, rookie defenseman Michal Spacek blasted home his first career goal with a slap shot from the point. Thunder Captain Garet Hunt followed that up with a one-timer goal that found a way through Idaho netminder Pat Nagle to tie the score.

The two goals came just 52 seconds apart, but the offense sputtered from there. Idaho forward Brett Robinson picked up a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for elbowing Thunder defenseman Ben Rosen in the head, but the Thunder failed to capitalize on it. The team took two minor penalties of their own giving Idaho a 4-on-3 power play, which they scored on through Anthony Nigro.

The Steelheads carried that momentum over to the start of the second period as Idaho’s reigning CCM ECHL Player of the Month Mitch Wahl scored just 29 seconds into the frame; the fastest goal the Thunder have allowed to start a period this season. The game bogged down from their as both sides took a number of penalties. The Thunder struggled to get things going offensively and put up just 6 shots in the period.

In the third, Idaho was able to essentially ice the game thanks to a goal from captain Justin Mercier to make it 5-2. Somehow though, that goal seemed to bring the Thunder offense to life as the team responded with 13 shots in the game’s final period, with Brayden Irwin scoring to cut the deficit to 5-3. It was Irwin’s 8th goal of the season, which put him back in front as the Thunder’s leading goal-scorer. The momentum was short-lived however as Nigro scored his second of the game to finish things off at 6-3.

The Thunder’s struggles with shots on goal and power play chances were on display in that game as they have been over the course of the team’s four-game winless streak. The Thunder have been outshot in all four losses by a combined margin of 155-99. While the team does still boast the ECHL’s best power play unit with a conversion percentage of 22.9%, the Thunder have struggled significantly lately. The team is just 1-for-13 with the man-advantage over its last four games, and the Thunder’s power play numbers differ between when the team is at home and on the road. While at Stockton Arena the Thunder scored 41.4% of the time on the power play, but that number drops to just 9.8% on the road. That translates to only 4 goals on 41 man-up opportunities, which ranks the Thunder 17th in the ECHL in road power play success.

Idaho is also closing in on the Thunder’s top overall spot in the league in power play success as the Steelheads sit second with a conversion rate of 22.5%. The shots on goal and power play numbers will have to improve as the Thunder are only in the third game of a five-game road trip.

The team next returns home on Sunday, December 15th at 4:00 pm to host the Bakersfield Condors. There are several events going on that afternoon as the first 2,000 fans entering Stockton Arena will receive a holiday-themed Thunder poster. It’s also a Family Day meaning fans can get a four-pack of tickets along with four hot dogs and four sodas for just $38. Finally, the Thunder will also be collecting packages of diapers to benefit the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless. Any fan who donates a new pack of diapers to the cause will receive a $3 off voucher good for any Thunder home game.