GAME 7 PREVIEW: BATON ROUGE KINGFISH AT STOCKTON THUNDER

KINGFISH GO FOR SWEEP IN STOCKTON 

The Baton Rouge Kingfish eye a sweep of the Stockton Thunder tonight at Adventist Health in game two of their seven-game road trip.

The Kingfish earned a victory, 3-1, last night, their first win in a one-goal game this season. 

It's the final battle of the season between the Kingfish and Thunder. Baton Rouge continues its trek through California next weekend against Fresno on Nov. 6-7.  

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Kingfish Pregame at 7:55 p.m.

Streaming: Free-to-watch video on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@BatonRougeKingfish 

LAST TIME OUT

Dmitry Kuznetsov broke a 1-1 tie with 2:45 remaining in the third period, and the Baton Rouge Kingfish began their seven-game road trip with a win, 3-1, over the Stockton Thunder at Adventist Health Arena.

After a scoreless first period, Stockton opened the scoring 6:36 into the middle frame, capitalizing just nine seconds after a successful penalty kill. However, four minutes later, Sam Turner rushed up the ice and found Kodiak Whiteduck in front of the net for his first goal of the season. The game headed to the third period deadlocked at one goal apiece.

Ed Coffey played his best game of the season and was particularly tremendous in the third period. Coffey made 33 saves on 34 shots and turned aside all 13 attempts he faced in the third to earn his fourth victory of the year.

With less than three minutes remaining in the game, Scott Shorrock won a critical offensive zone faceoff for the Kingfish. Dmitry Kuznetsov took the puck, reversed to the center point and snuck a wrist shot through traffic to give the Kingfish their first lead, 2-1. It marked Kuznetsov's first game-winning goal of the season. 

A Jake Cox empty-netter with 25 seconds remaining sealed the win. Shorrock notched the primary assist to record his second multi-point game of the campaign. He was the only skater on either team with multiple points. 

The Kingfish improve to 4-0-2 and reclaim sole possession of first place in the Delta Division. .

KUZY IN THE CLUTCH

Forward Dmitry Kuznetsov scored the game-winning goal with 2:45 remaining in the third period in last night's 3-1 win -- his first game-winner of the 2026-27 campaign

Kuznetsov, 30, has registered at least one point in five of Baton Rouge's first six games.  

He and Jason Brancheau are tied for second place on the club in goals with four each.

SHORROCK SHINES

Scott Shorrock logged a pair of assists in last night's 3-1 victory -- the only player on either team to post a multi-point game.. 

The center picked up the primary assist on Kuznetsov's game-deciding goal, winning the faceoff directly back to his linemate. .

Shorrock then forced a turnover and found Jake Cox on Baton Rouge's empty-netter with 25 seconds remaining.

The 27-year-old has notched seven points (2g, 5a) this season, tied with Brancheau for second on the club. 

CARTER MAKES KINGFISH DEBUT

After missing the first five games of the season with an eye injury, defenseman Don Carter, Jr., made his Kingfish debut last night.

The 31-year-old from California is in his sixth professional season and second stint in Baton Rouge.

He skated in 21 games with the Baton Rouge Zydeco in the 2024-25 season, piling up 10 points (5g, 5a). 

SCOUTING THE THUNDER

Stockton lost its second straight game last night, the first time the Thunder have suffered consecutive regulation losses this season. 

The Thunder are now 0-2-0 this season in games tied heading into the third period.

 Defenseman Ryan Constant, 41, played his first professional game since 2016 last night for the Thunder. A fan favorite in Stockton, Constant played six seasons and over 300 games with the Thunder between 2008 and 2015 when the organization was an ECHL affiliate.