Thunder goalie Franek aims for consecutive wins record

Las Vegas Thunder goaltender Petr Franek can set a team record for consecutive victories tonight when Las Vegas hosts the Utah Grizzlies at the Thomas & Mack Center at 7:05 p.m.

Franek has won his last eight decisions, tying the team mark set by Parris Duffus in 1996. Franek has not lost in almost a month --- Jan. 10 to be exact --- when he stopped 41 shots in a loss to Midwest Division-leading Chicago.

Since that time Franek has been unbeatable and so, for the most part, has been the Thunder. Las Vegas has won nine of its last 10 games, dropping only a 5-3 decision at Northeast Division-leading Detroit last Thursday. Franek left that contest just 7:23 into the second period after allowing three goals on 19 shots. Konstantin Simchuk was credited with the loss in goal for Las Vegas despite allowing just two goals on 22 shots.

The Thunder bounced back from that loss the next night to defeat Detroit, 4-2, behind a 47-save performance by Franek and then edged Indianapolis, 5-4, in a shootout on Saturday.

Despite its recent winning ways, Las Vegas (18-26-5, 41 points) still finds itself 13 points out of the sixth and final International Hockey League Western Conference playoff spot now held by Kansas City (25-21-4, 54 points).

Utah (22-22-6, 50 points), which is nine points ahead of Las Vegas for third place in the Southwest Division, has won two of the three previous meetings between the two squads, including a 4-2 victory on Jan. 2 in Salt Lake City, the last time the two teams faced off against each other.

Tonight's game kicks off a stretch which will see Las Vegas playing eight of its next 10 games at the Thomas & Mack Center.

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