CHL Wichita Thunder

Thunder Lose High-Scoring Contest in OT vs. Sundogs

Published on March 29, 2014 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


Prescott Valley, AZ - David Rutherford put his team on his back in the final 10 minutes on Friday night. His hat trick including the game-winner with 19 seconds remaining in overtime helped Arizona (31-27-7) knock off Wichita (27-29-9) by the final score of 6-5 at Tim's Toyota Center. Wichita ripped off four goals in the second period and had a 5-3 advantage with less than five minutes to go. Rutherford netted a pair less than a minute-apart to force the extra session. Tomas Klempa recorded two while Matt Summers and Matt Robinson each scored for the Thunder in a six-goal second frame between the two squads. Wichita is 3-4-1 this season against Arizona and will finish the season-series tomorrow night.

Arizona controlled the pace in the early going, but David Brown was up to the task on several tough scoring chances from his former team. The Sundogs led in the shot department at one point, 11-6, and got one through with five minutes remaining in the first. Newcomer Mike Forney caught a pass from behind the goal line, cut across the slot and wristed one past Brown to make it 1-0. The Thunder took over the second half of the period and were rewarded for it just over two minutes after the Sundogs grabbed its first lead. Jason Wilson stole the puck at the left circle and was able to roof a backhand over Andrew Engelage's shoulder, which tied the score at one.

The two teams traded goals in the second, starting with an early tally from Robinson 1:10 into the period. His team-leading 29th of the year gave Wichita its first lead of the contest. Justin Pender got into the act and tied the game at two at 9:29 with a wrap-around goal and his sixth of the year. Klempa re-gained the lead with a deadly wrist shot from the left circle at 10:45 to make it 3-2 in favor of the visitors. That would last less than two minutes as Brandon Coccimiglio evened it up at 12:10. The Thunder scored the next two and took a two-goal lead into the third. Klempa potted his second of the game at 16:49 after a rebound squirted to him at the side of Engelage's net and he buried it to make it 4-3. The Thunder were then given a two-man advantage with less than three minutes to go in the period as Jordan Clendenning and Tommy Maxwell were assessed minors. Summers caught a pass at the left side of the net and wristed it past Engelage to increase the lead to 5-3 at 17:31. The Sundogs got through the second penalty and Wichita took a two-goal lead into the locker room.

Arizona came out hard in the third period, outshooting the Thunder, 14-2. Brown was able to stand his ground until the 14:49 mark. Rutherford caught a seam-pass and took a wrist shot from his off-wing that got past Brown's glove to cut the lead to 5-4. At 15:38, he scored his second of the period while being tied up in the slot and evened up the game at five. Neither team could find the back of the net and for the second-straight game, Wichita and Arizona were headed past regulation.

In the overtime, each team had four shots on net. Coccimiglio was called for a high stick at 1:37, which resulted in a four-on-three power play for the Thunder for one minute. Engelage and the Sundogs' defense held the fort and the game went back to four skaters aside. Rutherford scored the game-winner with 19 seconds remaining as he initially had trouble with the puck between the circles. He fired a wrist shot in the net and ended the game in the overtime period, 6-5.

Wichita loses for the first time past regulation to the Sundogs this year after claiming the first two in a shootout in the season-series. Robinson has goals in back-to-back games and needs one more to reach 30 for the third time in his Thunder career. He's also just three shy of Joe Blaznek for fourth place all-time for goals scored in a Thunder uniform, now with 114 goals after tonight. Klempa notches his 12th multi-point and second multi-goal game of the season. Mike Wilson adds two assists and has performed that feat in three-straight contests. Jason Wilson recorded his sixth of the year and has goals in back-to-back games. Brown suffers his fourth loss past regulation, stopping 44 of 50 shots in 64 minutes and 14 seconds. Engelage claims his 29th win, stopping 32 of 37 shots in 61 minutes.

Wichita was 1-for-5 on the power play. Arizona went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.

Wichita will close out the regular season tomorrow night against the Sundogs at 9:05 p.m. CST. The game can be seen at Pucks Sports Bar, located inside the Wichita Ice Center starting with the Baker University Pre-Game Show at 8:45 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.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2014


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