Thunder Begins Week with Loss to Utah
February 5, 2020 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita began a busy week on Wednesday night, falling to the Utah Grizzlies, 3-1, at INTRUST Bank Arena.
Sean Allen scored the lone Thunder goal in the loss. Mitch Gillam was outstanding in net for the Thunder, stopping 28 shots he faced.
Both teams played strong in the neutral zone in the opening period. Griffen Molino gave the Grizzlies the early lead as he found a rebound in front of the net and buried it at 11:29 to make it 1-0.
In the second, Allen put the Thunder on the board with a blast from the left point past Martin Ouellette's glove to tie it at one. Gillam made a spectacular save with 10 minutes to go in the frame as he went from post-to-post to rob Brandon Saigeon.
However, Garrett Schmitz fired the puck over the glass and Utah cashed in on the man advantage. Molino unloaded a wrist shot that was stopped by Gillam. He couldn't locate the puck, and Mitch Maxwell buried it to make it 2-1 on the power play.
Both teams killed off penalties in the final period. Wichita pulled Gillam down the stretch, but Tim McGauley added an empty-net goal to give the Grizzlies the 3-1 victory.
Wichita's streak of scoring on the power play was snapped tonight, going 0-for-2. Allen netted his first goal as a pro.
The Thunder begins a three-in-three on Friday night with a visit to Kansas City to face the Mavericks at 7:05 p.m.
Individual tickets for the rest of the season are on sale now. To learn more, click here or contact a Thunder representative at the office today!
ECHL Stories from February 5, 2020
- Preview: 'Blades, Solar Bears Renew Rivalry on Wednesday - Florida Everblades
- 'Blades Extend Point Streak to Nine in OT Loss to Solar Bears - Florida Everblades
- Thunder Begins Week with Loss to Utah - Wichita Thunder
- K-Wings Fend off Mavs in Return Home - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mavs Drop Mid-Week Contest in Kalamazoo, 3-2 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Quenneville Returns from the AHL - Rapid City Rush
- Desharnais Returns to Wichita - Wichita Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - February 5 - ECHL
- Tim McGauley Named January Player of the Month - Utah Grizzlies
- Utah's McGauley Named Warrior Hockey ECHL Player of the Month - ECHL
- Saulnier Earns Howies Hockey Tape ECHL Rookie of the Month Honors - Rapid City Rush
- Rapid City's Saulnier Named Howies Hockey Tape/ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- "Red Out" for Jayden DeLuca Foundation Jersey Auction This Weekend - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Everblades - Orlando Solar Bears
- Johansson Makes NHL Debut with Buffalo Sabres - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Lightning Reassign Mike Condon to Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- Ustimenko Named Warrior Hockey Goaltender of the Month - Reading Royals
- Reading's Ustimenko Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Month - ECHL
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