Thunder Drop Heartbreaker in Arizona, 4-3
March 16, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Prescott Valley, AZ - Wichita (35-18-8) has had a knack over the last two games of being able to battle back from a third period deficit and almost completed that feat again on Friday night. However, Chad Nehring scored with just over one minute remaining in the third period to help the Sundogs (29-27-6) deny the Thunder its third-straight come-back bid winning 4-3 at Tim's Toyota Center. Matt Summers collected his 300th career point in the losing effort and Kevin Young finished with a goal and an assist. Wichita is 0-1-1 in the season-series against the Sundogs with the finale coming up tomorrow night.
Even though the two teams have only seen each other once this season, both came out hard and through the body around. Wichita got on the board first when Young was able to slip a rebound through Adam Russo at 10:57 to make it 1-0. Ian Lowe made it 2-0 with a terrific play at 16:12. He caught a pass in the slot, pushed the puck towards the inside of the defender, skated to the outside where he caught his own pass and tucked it through Russo for his 26th of the season. Late in the period, Arizona got one back with 10 seconds remaining in the period. Arizona appeared to commit a bench minor for too many men on the ice, but the play was allowed to continue and Nehring wristed a shot from in-close past Torrie Jung to cut the Thunder lead to 2-1.
In the second period, Arizona generated several scoring chances and cashed in on two of those in 12 seconds. Kevin Baker tied the game at 16:22 as he caught a pass on a two-on-one and beat Jung over the blocker. At 16:34, Purves got to a dump in behind the Thunder net and fed Sebastien Geoffrion who scored to give Arizona its first lead at 3-2.
Summers tied the game with just over three minutes remaining in the third period on a beautiful feed from Chad Painchaud across the crease to the right post to lock it up at three. With just over a minute remaining in the game, Nehring recorded his second of the night and it would end up being the game-winner on an identical play from his first goal back in the first period. Wichita pulled Jung after winning the next face-off and had a few chances to get one past Russo but was unable to do so.
Wichita's winning streak stops at three. The Thunder are now 1-4-4 in its last nine road games and lost for the just second time this season when scoring the first goal (22-2-5). Summers recorded his 300th career point in the contest and finished with a goal and an assist. Young pulled into a second place tie all-time with Dave Doucette for goals scored by a Thunder blue liner (20) and is just two shy of Paul Esdale for the single-season record. Torrie Jung took the loss for the Thunder, stopping 26 of 30 shots he faced. Adam Russo improved to 2-0-0 against his former team, stopping 21 of 24 shots.
Wichita went 1-for-5 on the power play while Arizona was 0-for-1.
Wichita faces the Arizona Sundogs tomorrow night at 9:05 p.m central time. The Thunder then finish off its four-game road trip in Allen, TX the following Tuesday. The Thunder will not return to home-ice until March 22nd against the Allen Americans. 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!
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