Quick Strike Offense Helps Thunder Blow Past Rapid City
November 9, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS - After giving up a goal one minute into the game, Wichita (5-3-1) exploded for three in a span of 1:36 to skate away from the Rapid City Rush (4-4-0) on Friday Night with a 6-2 victory at INTRUST Bank Arena. Greger Hanson, RG Flath and Matt Summers combined for nine points and Neil Trimm extended his scoring streak to eight games with a goal and an assist. Wichita extends their winning streak to four games with the victory. The two teams will see each other again tomorrow night in the Air Capital at 7:05 p.m.
Rapid City scored early in the contest as Rusty Masters found a rebound that clanked off the post and put it in to give the Rush a 1-0 lead at 1:08 of the first period. The lead didn't last long, however, as the Thunder scored the next four. Ryan Flanigan recorded his first goal in a Thunder uniform at 6:31 on the power play when he found a loose puck at the right side of the net and tied it at one. Wichita took the lead for good at 7:50 as Kevin Young got to a loose puck in the slot off a bad clearing attempt and beat Neil Conway along the ice to make it 2-1 on the power play. Just 15 seconds later, Hanson increased the Thunder lead to 3-1 when he took a wrister from the left circle, followed up his own rebound and put it through Conway.
At the start of the second, Hanson went back-to-back to make it 4-1 at 2:46. Summers made a nice play at the red line to steal a pass, found Hanson to the left of Tim Boron who was able to flip it in for his second of the game. Boron was forced into action after Conway was pulled for allowing three goals on nine shots in just over eight minutes of work. The Rush cut the lead to 4-2 when Masters added his second of the game at the 10:10 mark of the second period. Six minutes later, Nathan Lutz fired a shot from the blue line that was knocked out of the air and past Boron to increase the lead to 5-2.
Trimm added a break-a-way goal in the third period as the Thunder skated past the Rush by the final of 6-2. Greger Hanson finished with two goals and an assist while his line-mates Flath and Summers each recorded three helpers. Chad Painchaud extended his scoring-streak to nine games with an assist in the contest.
Kevin Regan won his third-straight game with 23 saves on 25 shots. The Thunder power play stayed hot, going 2-for-8 on the night while the penalty killing unit shut down the Rush, killing off all eight attempts that Rapid City had including a five-on-three in the third period.
Wichita and Rapid City return tomorrow night for a rematch beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Thunder will head out on Sunday afternoon to take on the Fort Worth Brahmas at 4 p.m. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2012
- Cutthroats Fall out West in a 5-2 Final - Denver Cutthroats
- Mallards Battle Back to Earn Point But Fall to Allen in Shootout - Quad City Mallards
- Quick Strike Offense Helps Thunder Blow Past Rapid City - Wichita Thunder
- Mavericks Blanked by Blaze - Kansas City Mavericks
- Oilers Outdueled by Brahmas - Tulsa Oilers
- Blaze Score Franchise-High 7 Goals in Shutout Win - Bloomington Blaze
- CHL Names Mike Sarter Manager of Hockey Administration - CHL
- Shots from the Point for November 9, 2012 - CHL
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