Thunder Explodes Past Mavs in Third
Published on December 26, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder defeated the Missouri Mavericks 7-4 at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Sunday evening.
Trailing 3-1 heading into the third period, the Thunder erupted for six goals in the final frame to pull out the win. Jesse Bennefield finished the night with two goals and three points, including the Thunder's first penalty shot goal of the season.
Andrew Martens pulled Wichita within 3-2 just 65 seconds into the third, taking a pass off the boards from Bennefield and then shooting the puck over the right shoulder of Mavericks' goaltender Rob Nolan. Travis Wight tied the game at 5:04, using a wrap-around move from the left post.
Missouri regained the lead when Nathan O'Nabigon's scored 27 seconds after Wight, but Wichita rattled off four unanswered goals to close out the contest. Kory Scoran knotted the game at 4-4 with a shot from the point at 7:39. Bennefield swatted in A.J. Gale's cross-crease pass at 12:06 to make it 5-4 Thunder. After getting slashed on a breakaway at 16:31, Bennefield was awarded a penalty shot and beat Nolan with a forehand deke that saw the puck narrowly cross the goal line. Aaron Davis made it 7-4, scoring on an empty net with 1:12 left in the game.
Marc-Antoine Gelinas saved 15 of 19 to earn the win. Nolan took the loss, saving 28 of 34.
Wichita grabbed a 1-0 lead at 10:39 in the first on a goal from Daniel Tetrault. Matt Robinson won a board battle down the left wing and chipped the puck to Tetrault who crashed the slot and beat Nolan over his left shoulder. Bill Vandermeer tied the game at 12:19, re-directing Jared Lavender's shot from the point. Missouri made it 2-1 when Nick Sirota scored in front of the crease at 16:51. Sirota took a last-second pass from the left circle from Derek Pallardy.
The Mavericks went up 3-1 in the second on a goal from Simon Watson at 13:37.
Wichita was 2 for 6 on the power play while Missouri went 1 for 3. The Thunder outshot the Mavericks 22 to 2 in the third period. The win snapped Missouri's five-game winning streak.
The Thunder and Mavericks square off again on Monday at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the arena box office at (316) 755-SEAT or visit the Thunder's official website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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