San Francisco Bulls v Stockton Thunder, January 19, 2013 – Photos Courtesy of Mike Tkacheff via SF Bulls Homepage

The San Francisco Bulls travel to Stockton to renew their rivalry with the Thunder. The Bulls (17-21-5) come in surging as they have won four of their last five games, while the Thunder (22-16-8) come in slumping as they have lost four of their last five. The Bulls have won the last two weekend series they have played, by taking two of three from Stockton and two of three from Alaska. The Bulls recent hot streak has led to them tying the Utah Grizzlies in seventh place in points with 39, but Utah has two games in hand, and brought them within two points of the sixth place Las Vegas Wranglers. The Bulls offense has been clicking recently. Bulls goalie Taylor Nelson has been the best player on the ice recently for the team. The Bulls lead the season series five to two.

The Bulls come into tonight’s game riding high as they were the first team to hand the Aces a series loss on the season. The were led on offense by Christian Ouellet, who had four points in the three games. On Sunday’s game Peter Sivak had two goals and one assist, which gives him gives him the team lead in goals and points with 20 and 40 respectively. Dean Ouellet finally chipped in with a goal and an assist. The recently outburst of secondary scoring options has been a major reason for the Bulls recent success. The Bulls’ star of late has been goalie Taylor Nelson. He stopped 94 of 100 shots he faced over the weekend from the Aces. If he keeps it up then the Bulls should have a great shot at taking tonight’s game.

The Thunder have been a poor offensive team recently. The have average only 2.2 goals over the last five games, which they have won only one of those five. Part of the Thunder’s offensive struggles are due to the lack of contribution from their top scorer in Yannick Riendeau, who only has one point in his last 5 games. The two hot skaters for the Thunder are the pair of Harrison Reed and Justin Maylan as they combined for 10 point over the last three games against Utah. The key to the game tonight is the punch less offense of the Thunder going against the hot hand of Bulls’ goalie Taylor Nelson. I think Nelson continues his stellar play as the Bulls will take their sixth game against their Northern California rivals.