Robinson Nets Winner to Complete Third Period Comeback
December 28, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS - Trailing by one entering the third period, Wichita (10-14-4) came from behind to earn a 3-2 victory over the St. Charles Chill (7-18-4) on Saturday night at INTRUST Bank Arena. Nick McParland and Matt Robinson rallied the Thunder in the final frame while Jon Booras added his 11th of the season. Wichita leads the season-series 2-1-1 and will play the Chill for the final time this year tomorrow afternoon.
St. Charles tried to slow things down in the opening period, keeping an extra guy high and clogging up the neutral zone. Anthony Perdicaro gave the Chill a 1-0 lead six minutes in with a one-timer from the right circle that beat David Brown to the blocker side. Neither team had a chance with the man advantage in the first 20 minutes.
In the second, Wichita turned up the pace and started to get some scoring chances. Booras cashed in at 11:06 to tie the game at one after one-timing a Robinson feed from the right circle and beat Linus Lundin. The Chill would then receive consecutive power plays as Dustin Donaghy was called for a tripping penalty at 13:44. Right as he came out of the box, Mike Wilson was sent off for hooking. The Chill re-gained the lead at 16:19 on the man advantage as John Snowden's shot re-directed off of Martin Hlinka, hit another skate to the side of Brown and went in. Wichita out-shot St. Charles 11-4 in the period, but trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Wichita only had two a pair of chances with the power play, but the number two power play unit made it count at the start of the third. RG Flath took a shot that popped off of Lundin at the top of the goal mouth. McParland was there to bang a rebound towards Lundin and it got through him and over the goal line. The official didn't signal a goal initially, but after speaking with his linesmen and the goal judge, the goal was awarded and the game was tied at 5:27. Less than two minutes later, Wichita grabbed its first lead of the game. Andrew Martens fired a shot on net that hit Lundin, tapped off the post, and stopped in the crease for Robinson who was able to come through the goal mouth to record his 14th of the year. The Thunder held on down the stretch and earned its third-straight win on Saturday night.
Wichita wins three in a row for just the second time this season. The Thunder won for just the third time when trailing after two and are now 3-7-1 in that category. Robinson recorded his second consecutive game-winner and is one goal shy of 100 for his career. Martens tallied two helpers and moves into third place ahead of Cam Plante with 146 points all-time in a Wichita uniform by a Thunder blue liner (36g, 110a). Martens is three points away from reaching 300 points for his career with his two-point night. Booras extended his point-streak to six games (4g, 5a) and is one point away from reaching 500 for his career. Brown earned his third win in a Thunder uniform, stopping 19 of 21 shots. Lundin took the loss, stopping 21 of 24 shots he faced.
Wichita went 1-for-2 on the power play. St. Charles was 1-for-3.
The Thunder and the Chill finish their season-series on Sunday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. Wichita closes out a busy stretch of four games in five days Tuesday night on New Year's Eve in Allen against the Americans at 6:05 p.m.
Individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets and mini plans are still available. Don't delay, contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this off-season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2013
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- Ludwig Natural Hat Trick Leads Allen over Tulsa - Allen Americans
- Third Period Lifts Thunder Past Chill - St. Charles Chill
- Robinson Nets Winner to Complete Third Period Comeback - Wichita Thunder
- McMillan Gives Mallards 3-2 O.T. Win in Brampton - Quad City Mallards
- Americans Host Tulsa Tonight, Sign Playoff MVP McMillin - Allen Americans
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