Magers, Offense Dominate in Regular Season Finale
March 27, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 8-1 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Sunday evening in their regular season finale.
Dustin Donaghy, Troy Schwab, and Daniel Tetrault each potted two goals, while Marty Magers made a season-high 44 saves to earn the win.
Already leading 4-0 in the third, Tetrault rifled the puck from the left boards past RiverKings' goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy for a power play goal at 2:43. 48 seconds later, Schwab netted his second of the game for a 6-0 Thunder advantage. Jesse Bennefield took a pass from Brent Cullaton during a two-on-one and shot past Pechurskiy's right at 12:58 for the Thunder's seventh goal. Tetrault made it 8-0 at 16:38, scoring shorthanded on a one-timer that also originated from Cullaton.
Magers carried a shutout into the final minutes of the game. Magers and the Thunder defense killed off an entire five-minute major midway through the third after Robin Richards was charged with a boarding penalty at 4:01. During another Mississippi man advantage, Chris Richards deflected Derek Landmesser's shot from the point past Magers' right with 2:53 left in regulation to break up the shutout bid. Magers was 16 of 17 in a third period that included nearly eight minutes of RiverKings power play.
The Thunder exploded for three goals in the first to take early control of the game. Donaghy scored from the left halfboards at 5:07 for the first goal of the night. At 14:04, and with the Thunder on a power play, Schwab shot a rebound past the left of Pechurskiy. Schwab's opportunity was the product of Tetrault's shot from the right point. Just 27 seconds after Schwab's first goal, Donaghy scored his second of the night, again from the left boards, this time beating Pechurskiy to the short side of the net.
Aaron Davis scored Wichita's first shorthanded goal at 10:19 in the second period to make it 4-0 Wichita. Cullaton made a headlong pass to Tetrault that triggered a two-on-one. Tetrault skated through the right circle before making a backdoor pass over the crease that Davis buried to the right of new RiverKings' goaltender Larry Sterling. Sterling took over for Pechurskiy at 8:10 in the second. Pechurskiy would return to start the third period and played the remainder of the game. Magers stopped all 15 of Mississippi's shots in the second.
Magers was 44 of 45 for the game. The 44 saves were the most for any Thunder goaltender this season. Pechurskiy took the loss, combining for 22 saves on 29 shots. Sterling was 11 for 12. The Thunder went 2 for 6 on the power play and 6 for 7 on the penalty kill.
Cullaton and Steven Kaunisto finished with three assists, while Tetrault and Schwab each totaled four points. Chris Greene also had two assists. Cullaton was +4 in the game.
For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com For information on Thunder playoff tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
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