Clutch Goals Lift Thunder to Increidble Win
Published on April 2, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
INDEPENDENCE, MO- The Wichita Thunder beat the Missouri Mavericks 5-4 in overtime in Game Three of the Opening Round at the Independence Events Center on Saturday night.
The Thunder now leads the best-of-five series 2-1 heading back to Wichita for Game Four on Tuesday night.
Daniel Tetrault scored the game-winning goal during a power play at 5:47 in overtime, connecting on a low shot from the point past the right side of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan.
Trailing 4-3 in the final minute, Jesse Bennefield tied the game on a scrum in front of the net with 58.6 seconds left in regulation. Wichita was on the power play and also utilized an extra attacker in the process of tying the game.
Missouri broke a 3-3 tie with 3:01 left in regulation when Shawn Fensel scored from the point on a Mavericks' power play. It was Missouri's sixth power play of the game on 15 penalty minutes. At the time, the Thunder had just two power plays on four minutes, and none since the middle of the first period. It was Missouri's first lead of the night.
Ryan Jardine scored at 3:03 in the third to tie the game at 3-3, beating Marc-Antoine Gelinas on a deke to his right. Shortly after Jardine's goal, Bennefield appeared to have put the Thunder in front, sneaking a backdoor pass from Brent Cullaton underneath Nolan's left pad. Refree Marc-Andre Lavoie definitively pointed at the net twice to signal for a goal, but reversed his decision after a discussion with the Independence Events Center's goal judge.
In the first, Wichita killed off a five-minute Mavericks power play after Robin Richards was called for charging at 2:24. The period remained scoreless until the 18:20 mark when Matt Robinson scored on a backhand shot from the low slot. Robinson took control of the puck after Aaron Davis placed a slapshot from the right side of the blue line on Nolan. Missouri tied the game with 13.9 seconds left in the period when Ray DiLauro deflected Simon Watson's shot from the point past Gelinas during the Mavericks' third power play of the opening frame.
Robinson helped Wichita re-gain the lead at 3:29 in the second. Robinson scored on a backhander above the crease, beating Nolan to his right. At 13:17 in the period, Troy Schwab gave the Thunder their first multi-goal lead of the series. Cullaton rushed the puck behind the net, skated back to the right circle, and took a backhand shot that Nolan stopped. Bennefield was also denied on the ensuing rebound, but Schwab shot inside the right post for the score with Nolan still sprawled on the crease. Nick Sirota trimmed the lead to 3-2 at 16:49, scoring on a backhander from the slot that knuckled past Gelinas' right.
Gelinas was 18 of 22 in the win. Nolan was 36 for 41 in the loss. The Thunder was 2 for 4 on the power play while Missouri was 2 for 6.
It was the Thunder's first playoff overtime game since April 7th, 2007 versus Bossier-Shreveport, and their first playoff overtime victory since April 1st, 2006, also versus the Mudbugs.
Game Four is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th at the INTRUST Bank Arena with a 7:05 p.m. opening faceoff. For tickets, call the INTRUST Bank Arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com
Central Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2011
- Jacks Even Series with 5-2 Win - Odessa Jackalopes
- Rush Take 2-0 Series Lead With 3-1 Triumph over Gems - Rapid City Rush
- Gems drop 3-1 game to Rush - Dayton Gems
- Mavs Fall To The Thunder In OT, 5-4 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Sundogs Pull Even in Series with 2-1 Overtime Win - Arizona Sundogs
- PrairieThunder Drop Game #1 of the Playoffs 5-2 on Saturday Night - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Clutch Goals Lift Thunder to Increidble Win - Wichita Thunder
- Texas Slumps In Game Two, Series Tied In Opening Round - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Mudbugs Host Sundogs in Game 2 Tonight - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Mallards Come Back for Game 1 Win - Colorado Eagles
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