Power Play Propels Thunder Past Cutthroats
March 8, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS - Wichita (33-17-8) has been one of the highest scoring teams in the CHL this season, but reached new heights on Friday night. The Thunder ripped off two four-goal periods en route to a 9-5 win over the Denver Cutthroats (28-23-7) at INTRUST Bank Arena. Wichita racked up a season-high nine goals, five of which were on the power play. Seven players recorded two or more points while Neil Trimm, RG Flath and Ian Lowe had two goals a-piece. Wichita extends its home-point streak to 11 games and wins for the 23rd time on home-ice this season. Wichita wins the season-series over Denver 5-2-0. Wichita is 59-40-10 all-time against expansion franchises. With the win, Wichita clinches a playoff berth as the Bloomington Blaze fell at Tulsa earlier in the evening.
The only goal of the first period was scored at 14:48 when Matt Summers caught a piece of a shot from Flath and beat Kieran Millan through the five-hole to put Wichita up 1-0. Wichita out-shot the Cutthroats through the first 20 minutes 15-4.
The fireworks began in the second period when the two teams combined for seven goals. JP Chabot got Denver on the board at 4:08 on the power play. AJ Gale gave the Cutthroats a 2-1 advantage at 5:10. The Thunder reeled off the next four goals in an eight-minute span as Lowe scored a pair back-to-back at 8:59 and 11:47 on the power play to give Wichita a 3-2 lead. Trimm scored his first of two at 15:53 as he skated down on a two-on-one, faked a pass across to Kevin Young and beat Millan to extend the lead to 4-2. Young then added Wichita's second power play goal of the period at 16:49. Denver's Luke Fulghum scored with eight seconds remaining in the period to pull Denver within two.
The Thunder added four more in the third period and squashed any idea of a come-back from Denver. Flath scored his first of two at 3:42 to make it 6-3. Gale then gave Denver some life at 5:33 with his second of the night. Martens and Flath tried to put the game out of reach for Wichita with goals at 10:55 and 13:39. Joel Chouinard added a power play goal for Denver 15 seconds later to make it 8-5. The last goal of the game was rung up by Trimm at 17:02 as he stole the puck from Jamie MacQueen at the right circle, skated in all alone and deked out Millan for his second of the night and capped off a 9-5 victory for Wichita.
Wichita reached a season-high nine goals, which hadn't been done since January 14th, 2005 in New Mexico when the Thunder won 9-6. Wichita earns its 23rd home win of the year and can still equal the franchise high of 26 performed by the 1993-94 team.
Trimm (2g, 2a) and Lowe (2g, 2a) each finish with four points while Flath (2g, 1a) had three. Four other players tallied at least two points. Torrie Jung added two assists to go along with his 19th win of the year, making 25 saves on 30 shots. Over the last three home games, Wichita has out-shot its opponent 42-12 in the first period.
Wichita scored a season-high five times on the man advantage, going 5-for-7 on the power play. Denver went 2-for-6.
Wichita closes its brief two-game home-stand against the Tulsa Oilers tomorrow night. Saturday Night is Alumni Night with the Thunder Alumni playing against the Men's League All-Stars before the game at 5:15. The Junior Thunder will begin a busy day of hockey at 2 p.m. Tickets for the Thunder game will allow fans admission to all three events. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.
Wichita Thunder playoff packages are on sale now. There are many ways to get involved, so be a part of the Blue Revolution and the Thunder's quest for a CHL Title. Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625 or visit the fan relations table behind section 120 at any Wichita Thunder home game for more information. Join the Blue Revolution today!
Central Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2013
- Oilers Back on Track with 2-1 Triumph over Blaze - Tulsa Oilers
- Brahmas Clinch Playoff Berth with Shootout Win - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Rush Topple League-Leading Americans 3-1 - Rapid City Rush
- Power Play Propels Thunder Past Cutthroats - Wichita Thunder
- Sundogs Drop Game against Brahmas, 4-3 - Arizona Sundogs
- Cutthroats Fall in Wichita, 9-5 - Denver Cutthroats
- First-Period Goals Trip Blaze in Tulsa - Bloomington Blaze
- Mavs Lose to Mallards, 7-2 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Mallards Roll 7-2 in Missouri - Quad City Mallards
- Mavericks Game Tonight Will Not be Broadcast on 1660-AM - Kansas City Mavericks
- Deal Finalized; Central Hockey League Team to Call Brampton Home - Brampton Beast
- Central Hockey League Finalizes Agreement with Brampton, Ontario - CHL
- Tulsa Oilers Hosting Military Night for Folds of Honor Foundation - Tulsa Oilers
- Shots from the Point for March 8, 2013 - CHL
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