Thunder Gain Ground; Fall to Rush in Shootout, 4-3
Published on March 9, 2014 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (March 9th) - In their regular season finale, Wichita (23-27-6) and Rapid City (36-20-1) needed a shootout to decide the outcome for the second-straight time, which was taken by the visitors on Sunday afternoon in a 4-3 win at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Thunder offense was paced by its defensemen as each goal was scored from the blue line while Jon Booras added two helpers in his return to the line-up after missing Tuesday night's affair. Wichita finishes 0-5-2 in the regular-season series against Rapid City and is six points back of the Arizona Sundogs for the final playoff spot after grabbing a point in the loss.
After a scoreless first period, Rapid City got on the board when Jesse Schultz found a rebound that came off of David Brown to the right post and he shelved a backhand for his 18th of the season. Wichita tied the game off a face-off as Jarrko Leppanen's wrist shot through a screen cleared over the shoulder of Wayne Savage to the back of the net at 11:06 to even things at one. The Rush would be awarded a late power play and took advantage when a Riley Weselowski shot hit the post, sat in the crease and Winston Day Chief poked it home before the clock ran out in the second. The Rush took a 2-1 lead into the second period and outshot the Thunder 17-14 in the frame.
The Thunder came out hard in the third period and were rewarded for their efforts. At 6:45, Jon Booras won a face-off back to Mike Wilson and his seeing-eye shot got through Savage tying the game at two. Wichita's power play had been close all night to finding the net, but Savage was up to the task time-after-time. Jared Brown was sent off for roughing, giving the Thunder its sixth power play chance. Andrew Martens moved to the middle of the Rapid City blue line and fired one that got past Savage to the upper portion of the net and gave the Thunder its first lead of the game at 8:28. The Rush would answer two minutes later after a rebound came to the left of Brown and Weselowski put it home to even it up at three. The two teams couldn't find the back of the net again and headed into overtime for the second game in a row against each other.
In the overtime, both teams had quick chances. Matt Summers got a loose puck 30 seconds in but was stopped by the leg pad of Savage and the game remained tied. A few minutes later, Schultz got loose but his shot rang off the cross bar. Neither team would decide the game in the overtime session and the five-player shootout was needed.
Jared Brown went first for the Rush and was denied by David Brown. Summers was also unable to find the net as Savage got his glove on the shot as the teams headed to the second set of shooters. After Anthony Perdicaro was denied, Tomas Klempa fired a shot past Savage to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead through two rounds. Schultz evened things up at the top of round three as he went glove side on Brown. Wichita's next two shooters couldn't score as RG Flath and Booras were stopped Day Chief gave the Rush a 2-1 lead after his teammate Scott Brannon was stopped. Ian Lowe scored to keep the Thunder alive in the bottom of round five. Eric Giosa fired one past Brown's blocker at the top of round six. Jesse Dudas was stopped in the bottom of the round and the Rush grabbed the extra point and claim a playoff spot with a 4-3 shootout win.
Leppanen scores his first goal since being called-up to the Thunder from the SPHL. Martens tallies his 41st marker of his career is seven shy of Daniel Tetrault for most goals scored by a Thunder blue liner all-time. He is also just four points back of tying Sean O'Reilly for second place all-time in points scored by a Wichita defensemen as he pushes his totals to 165 (41g, 124a). Brown suffers his second shootout loss of the season, stopping 28 of 31 shots. Savage claims his first win of the year with 32 saves on 35 shots he faced.
Wichita went 1-for-6 on the power play. Rapid City was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.
Wichita remains home next weekend with a pair of games against the Tulsa Oilers on Friday and Saturday night. Both contests begin at 7:05 p.m. The Thunder finish the weekend on Sunday afternoon in Tulsa at 4:05 p.m.
2014-15 season tickets are on sale now! 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 season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2014
- Thunder Gain Ground; Fall to Rush in Shootout, 4-3 - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Come Back to Earn 6-4 Win - St. Charles Chill
- Americans Big 3rd Period Ends Two Game Skid - Allen Americans
- Denver Cutthroats on Mad Streak in March - Denver Cutthroats
- Boron Slams the Door Shut in his First Shutout of Season - Rapid City Rush
- Oilers Blanked by Rush in Season Series Finale - Tulsa Oilers
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