Thunder Streak Stopped in 4-1 Loss to Mavs
February 8, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS - Despite taking an early lead, Wichita (19-20-4) saw its three-game winning streak stopped on Friday night in a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Missouri Mavericks (27-12-2) at INTRUST Bank Arena. Andrew Martens tallied the only Thunder goal, giving him eight on the season. Wichita leads the Independence Cup series 5-3-0 and will face Missouri this coming Sunday afternoon.
Wichita got on the board first with five and a half minutes remaining in the opening frame. Martens came up the left wing, got around the Mavericks net and wrapped the puck past Shane Owen on the left wing post to grab a 1-0 lead. RG Flath and Tomas Klempa earned helpers on the goal as Wichita continued to put pressure on the Mavericks. The Thunder out-shot Missouri 12-9 after the first period.
In the second, Missouri would take the lead for good with two goals in a five-minute span. Mike Ramsay caught a centering feed and tipped it past David Brown at 4:39 to tie the game at one. Missouri had the early shot advantage at 7-4 through the first eight minutes of the period and took the lead at 9:03. After Matt Robinson was tripped on a potential break-a-way and no call was made, Jesse Dudas was whistled for hooking. Eric Castonguay scored from the bottom of the right circle to make it 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
The Mavericks sat back in the third period and didn't allow Wichita to get through the neutral zone. Ramsay recorded his second of the game at 13:08 on the power play to make it 3-1. The Thunder kept pressing after falling behind by two and eventually would pull Brown with just under three minutes remaining. Trevor Kell was then sent off for hooking, giving Wichita a power play and a six-on-four situation. Rob Kleebaum tracked down a loose puck in the Thunder zone after a clear was sent the length of the ice and scored an empty-net goal to close out the scoring at 4-1.
Missouri stops its losing streak against the Thunder at five. Each of the Thunder losses against the Mavericks have been by three goals this season. Martens remains in first place in the defenseman scoring race with 36 points (8g, 28a), three points ahead of teammate Jesse Dudas who has 12 goals and 21 assists. Klempa extends his scoring streak to five games with an assist on the night (3g, 4a). Brown loses for just the second time in the last eight starts, stopping 24 of 27 shots. Owen claims his 22nd win of the season, stopping 36 of 37 shots and earned the number one star of the night.
Wichita went 0-for-2 on the power play. Missouri was 2-for-2 with the man advantage.
Wichita travels to Tulsa on Saturday night to take on the Oilers at 7:35 p.m. The Thunder close out the weekend on Sunday afternoon against the Mavericks at 5:05 p.m.
Individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets and mini plans are still available. Don't delay, contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this off-season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2014
- Mavericks Take No. 1 Spot in CHL - Kansas City Mavericks
- Early Hole Dooms Thunder in 3-1 Loss at Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- Levesque Hat Trick Powers Mallards Past Chill in Front of 8,761 - Quad City Mallards
- Chill Battle Early But Fall Late - St. Charles Chill
- Missouri Wins First Place Showdown - Allen Americans
- 8,761 Watch Mallards Down St. Charles - Quad City Mallards
- Game Preview: Rush vs Cutthroats - Rapid City Rush
- Americans Pick up 5-2 Win over Quad City - Allen Americans
- Thunder Streak Stopped in 4-1 Loss to Mavs - Wichita Thunder
- Sundogs Deny Beast in 3-2 Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Rush Fall To Cutthroats Despite Spirited Late - Rapid City Rush
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