Thunder goes 3-3-1 on seven-game road trip
February 19, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
THUNDER PUTS BLAZERS TO SLEEP- The Thunder knocked off Oklahoma City 3-1 on Tuesday morning at the Ford Center in a special Kid's Day Game. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Thunder scored three unanswered goals, including two shorthanded goals by Jason Duda. Kris Wiebe scored on the power play to put the game away. Sebastien Laplante made 35 saves in the victory, tying Greg Smith for third place in Thunder history with 42 wins.
STEELHOUNDS TAKE FIRST TWO MEETINGS FROM THUNDER- Youngstown jumped out to a 4-0 first period lead and never looked back, rolling to a 5-1 win over the Thunder on Friday in Youngstown, Ohio. Joe Blaznek scored the lone Thunder goal, shorthanded. On Saturday, the SteelHounds again came away with the victory, this time by a 3-1 score. Ryan Lauzon scored the lone Thunder goal. Wichita played the third period without Travis Clayton and Matt Coughlin, who were ejected at the end of the second period for fighting.
THUNDER TAKES FINAL GAME IN YOUNGSTOWN- Joe Blaznek scored the only goal of the shootout, giving the Thunder a 6-5 win at Youngstown on Sunday, in a game that finished as wildly as the Daytona 500. Wichita led 4-2 going into the third period, before former Thunder players Matt Hanson and Kelly Sickavish scored shorthanded just 43 seconds apart. Travis Clayton put Wichita back ahead before former Thunder player Brad Patterson tied the game at 5-5. In the shootout, Blaznek scored on Wichita's final shot and goaltender Andrew Martin stopped all five SteelHounds to preserve the victory. Kris Wiebe and Ryan Lauzon led the Thunder with a goal and two assists each.
LONG ROAD TRIP FINALLY ENDS- Wichita is still in the midst of a stretch of 16 games in 28 days, the busiest February schedule in team history, but the toughest part of the schedule is over. The Thunder wrapped up the 2,696 mile road trip with a record of 3-3-1 and still cling to the final playoff spot in the Northern Conference by one point over the Tulsa Oilers. Nine of Wichita's final 16 games are at home.
SHOOTOUT STREAK COMES TO AN END- The Thunder ended their streak of three straight shootout losses on Sunday, moving their record to 3-6 overall. Despite the win, Wichita is just 5-36 in their last eight shootouts since going 3-5 in an opening weekend win over Oklahoma City. Wichita ranks 16th in the CHL for shootout percentage at 19.5%, though they have moved up to 14th in the CHL for shootout save percentage, at 35.9%.
ROSTER UPDATE- Goaltender Sebastien Laplante left Saturday's game with an injury and was scratched on Sunday. Lee Anderson served as backup goaltender in his place. Laplante is tied for the CHL lead with a .928 save percentage. Defenseman Matt Coughlin was suspended by the CHL for two games, for leaving the bench to join an altercation on Saturday and will serve his final game tomorrow.
FIND A CURE NIGHT- The Thunder will hold their first ever "Find a Cure Night" tomorrow when they host Amarillo, a make up from the postponed game on December 30. Fans will be able to purchase and decorate upper level seats in memory of a loved one who has passed away due to a disease. A portion of all ticket sales will be dedicated to charity. So far over 3500 seats have been dedicated to loved ones.
THUNDERBOLTS- With 299, Travis Clayton needs one goal to become the third player in CHL history with 300...Wichita is second in the CHL, averaging 6,162 fans per game...Joe Blaznek ranks second in the CHL with seven game-winning goals...Daniel Tetrault is third among CHL defensemen with seven power play goals...The Thunder ranks third in the CHL in penalty killing at 86.1%...Wichita is allowing a CHL most 38 shots per game and has given up a CHL-high 16 shorthanded goals...The Thunder have three of the top six penalty minute leaders in the CHL...Ryan McLean is third (220), Steve Dix is fifth (195) and Matt Coughlin ranks sixth (190).
LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
Tuesday, February 13- Wichita 3 at Oklahoma City 1 Win
Friday, February 16- Wichita 1 at Youngstown 5 Loss
Saturday, February 17- Wichita 1 at Youngstown 3 Loss
Sunday, February 18- Wichita 6 at Youngstown 5 Win (SO)
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
Tuesday, February 20- Amarillo at Wichita 7:05 PM
Wednesday, February 21- Youngstown at Wichita 7:05 PM 1410 AM
Friday, February 23- Wichita at Tulsa 7:35 PM
PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Tuesday-Wednesday Kansas Coliseum 10:00 AM
Thursday-Friday Wichita Ice Center 10:00 AM
METAL BLADE RECORDS PLAYER OF THE WEEK-
Right Wing Kris Wiebe (4 GP, 2G, 2A)
Central Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2007
- Cam Abbott Named Sherwood CHL Player of the Week - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Sundogs Back into Sixth Playoff Spot after Winning Week - Arizona Sundogs
- Schieve named Goaltender of the Week - Mississippi RiverKings
- Scorpions tied for first with rival Amarillo - New Mexico Scorpions
- Oakley CHL Player and Goaltender of the Week Announced - CHL
- Eagles Week in Review - Colorado Eagles
- Thunder goes 3-3-1 on seven-game road trip - Wichita Thunder
- Bucks At LEC Whataburger Tuesday At Noon - Laredo Bucks
- SteelHounds Weekly Report - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Rivalry Weekend - Tulsa Oilers
- Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update - Rocky Mountain Rage
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