Robinson Gives Thunder Game 1 with Overtime Winner
March 28, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (March 28th) - Matt Robinson has scored some big goals in his career and added to his resume on Thursday night, scoring the game-winning-goal in overtime to help Wichita beat the Arizona Sundogs 4-3 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Robinson, who had six of his 12 goals go for game-winners during the regular season, scored his 16th post-season goal while Greger Hanson and Matt Summers each had two points in the win. Wichita takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against Arizona with Game 2 coming on Saturday night.
Matt Summers started the scoring just over five minutes in as he found a loose puck in the slot and put a backhand past Adam Russo. Wichita had several chances including a shorthanded breakaway chance from Chad Painchaud that Russo was able to get a piece of.
Wichita began the second period with two men in the penalty box after Hanson and Flath were whistled for late first-period minors. Wichita was able to extend the lead to 2-0 when Hanson's penalty expired, caught a pass from Martens on a three-on-two and put it through the legs of Russo. Mario Larocque got Arizona on the board at 3:31 with a one-timer from the slot. At 8:40, Les Reaney tallied his first goal since New Years Eve after stopping in the left circle with a toe-drag move and wristing one past Russo's blocker to give the Thunder a two-goal advantage, up 3-1.
Arizona weathered the storm at the start of the third and got back into the game with a Chad Nehring strike at 4:33 after skating past a Thunder defender and beating Torrie Jung to the glove side. Late in the period, Arizona came out of a timeout and set up a play off a face-off. The puck was won back to Matt McCready who sent one on net that ricocheted off a player in front and tied the game at three.
Each team had a hard time finding much room at the start of overtime as both clubs were clogging the neutral zone. Arizona was trying to complete a line change and the Thunder made them pay. Summers caught a long outlet from Kevin Young, came in the zone on a two-on-one, fed it across to Matt Robinson and he buried the overtime winner past Russo with a forehand-to-backhand deke.
Robinson scored the overtime game-winner in Game 6 against Fort Worth to send the Thunder to the CHL Finals last season and scored his first goal of this year's playoffs in dramatic fashion tonight. Hanson finished with a goal and an assist in first game back since late January. Young had two assists along with Summers who had a goal and an assist. Torrie Jung got the win, stopping 23 of 26 shots he faced. Each game this season between the two teams have been one-goal games.
Opening Round - Series "B" (best-of-7)
Arizona Sundogs vs. Wichita Thunder
Game 1 - Thu., Mar. 28 - Arizona 3 Wichita 4 OT
Game 2 - Sat., Mar. 30 - Arizona at Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3 - Tue., Apr. 2 - Wichita at Arizona, 8:05 p.m.
Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 3 - Wichita at Arizona, 8:05 p.m.
*Game 5 - Sat., Apr. 6 - Arizona at Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
*Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 7 - Arizona at Wichita, 5:05 p.m.
*Game 7 - Wed., Apr. 10 - Wichita at Arizona, 8:05 p.m.
*- If Necessary
Thunder lead 1-0
(All times Central)
Wichita will host Game 2 on Saturday, M arch 30 th at 7:05 p.m . Tickets are on sale now! 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 by joining the Blue Crue. 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!
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2013
- Americans Drop Game 1 to Denver - Allen Americans
- Cutthroats Take Game One in Allen, 2-1 - Denver Cutthroats
- Robinson Gives Thunder Game 1 with Overtime Winner - Wichita Thunder
- Fort Worth Drops Mallards 4-1 in Game One - Quad City Mallards
- Sundogs Battle Thunder in Tight, 4-3 Overtime Loss - Arizona Sundogs
- Allen Finishes Season on Top of Sher-Wood Coaches Poll - CHL
- Quad City's Mickey Lang Wins Oakley Three Stars Player of the Year - CHL
- Mallards' Lang Named Oakley CHL Three Stars Player of the Year - Quad City Mallards
- Brahmas Add Two Amateur Forwards - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Mavericks' F Kenton Miller Named CHL Rookie of the Month - Kansas City Mavericks
- Missouri's Kenton Miller Named 50/50 Central/CHL Rookie of the Month - CHL
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