Thunder Rallies in Front of Large Sunday Crowd
February 26, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (February 26th) - Wichita (36-15-2) erased an early two-goal deficit with four unanswered en route to a 4-2 win against Missouri (29-19-5) Sunday afternoon in front of the third largest crowd in franchise history. Matt Robinson scored his fourth multi-goal game of the month and Matt Summers extended his point streak to seven games with two points. With Allen idle, the Thunder now lead the Berry Conference by seven points and need just one more victory to assure itself a playoff berth for the second year in a row.
Missouri struck halfway through the first period with a back-handed goal by Kris Hogg (41) that made it 1-0. Despite outshooting the Mavericks eleven to eight, the Thunder found themselves down two with under three minutes remaining in the opening frame as Brandon Smith scored a one timer off of a deflected pass from Patrick Schafer to put the Mavericks up 2-0.
Wichita caught a break 57 seconds into the second when one of Missouri's own players slapped in a rebound into his own net. Robinson (28) was credited with the goal after he got a piece of the centering pass from Thomas Beauregard and the Thunder cut the lead to 2-1.
The Thunder finished the game strong by scoring three goals in the third period and four unanswered for the game. RG Flath (16) was the first to score at 4:38 when he came around the Mavericks net, let a slap shot go past Missouri starter Charlie Effinger and tied it at two on the power play. Summers scored the game-winner at 15:24 when he caught his own rebound off the post and put it in the net to make it 3-2. The Mavericks argued that the goal was kicked in the net, but the officials determined that it was a good and the goal stood.. With 2:07 left in the third, Robinson (29) scored a break-a-way goal to make it 4-2 and held on for the win.
Wichita wins the season series against Missouri, 7-2, and improves to .500 against the Mavericks all-time (14-14-2). Robinson is one goal shy of recording back-to-back 30 goal seasons and has scored 14 goals in his last 15 games. Summers, meanwhile, remains red hot as he has scored 12 points during his seven-game scoring run. The final attendance of 10,214 is the third largest crowd in franchise history and is the third crowd topping 10,000 this season.
Wichita hits the road for the next five games, starting next Wednesday night in Evansville and will not return to the Air Capital till March 14th against Rapid City. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2012
- Big Second Period Lifts Brahmas Over Oilers - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Thunder Rallies in Front of Large Sunday Crowd - Wichita Thunder
- Mavericks Fall to Thunder, 4-2 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Brahmas Use Second Period Surge to Drop Oilers - Tulsa Oilers
- Bucks Stomp-Out Blaze - Laredo Bucks
- Blaze Can't Hold Early Lead, Fall at Laredo - Bloomington Blaze
- Gems Fall 2-1 in Overtime to First Place Evansville - Dayton Gems
- Central Hockey League Announces Suspensions - CHL
- McKee Recalled to Peoria - Quad City Mallards
- Gems Host First Place Evansville for Sunday - Dayton Gems
- Rush Earn Point, But Mallards End up on Top of High Flying Affair - Rapid City Rush
- Mallards Outlast Rapid City in Shootout 6-5 - Quad City Mallards
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