Thunder strike down Brahmas in third period
February 26, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Fort Worth - Five third period goals for the Wichita Thunder proved to be the difference in the game as the Thunder earned a 6-4 win over the Fort Worth Brahmas on Saturday night at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.
In front of a raucous home crowd of 6,289, the charged up Brahmas came out and controlled the first two periods of play.
Fort Worth rookie forward Beau McLaughlin opened the scoring in the contest at the 12:03 mark of the first when he converted a a nifty tic-tac-toe passing play with Matt Reynolds and Justin Coutu into his sixth goal of the season. A score by Fort Worth's Ty Hennes just 57 seconds later extended the Brahmas lead to 2-0. Wichita got on the scoreboard at the 18:16 mark of the first when Thunder winger Kris Weibe had a puck bounce off his body and past Brahmas goaltender Larry Sterling.
In the second period, Fort Worth continued to carry play, keeping the Thunder at bay. The Brahmas extended their lead to 3-1 at the midway point of the period when left wing Wes Mason slipped an outstanding back door pass across the ice to Jimmy Sokol at the left wing face off circle. Sokol's wrist shot got past Thunder goaltender Jon Volp for his fifth goal in his last four games.
Staked to a two-goal advantage to start the final period, the Brahmas appeared to be in position to win their third consecutive game. The Thunder, however, had no intentions of being the Brahmas latest victim. Wichita's Tab Lardner and Jason Duda scored goals 42 seconds apart in the opening stages of the period to quickly tie the game at 3. Then, at the 9:32 mark of the period, the Thunder's Scott Rozendal scored the go-ahead goal to put Wichita on top 4-3.
Fort Worth would regroup after the Wichita scoring outburst, tying the game up again with just over five minutes left in regulation. The Brahmas Ben Gustavson scored his second goal in as many games when he deflected a Justin Coutu shot by Volp to even the score at four at the 14:57 mark of the third.
With time winding down, and overtime looming, Wichita would score the decisive goal. The Thunder's all star center, Travis Clayton, broke down the right side of the Brahmas zone. His low, hard snap shot snuck past Sterling's glove hand to give Wichita a 5-4 lead with just 1:00 showing on the clock.
Despite pulling Sterling for the final 58 seconds of the game and playing with an extra attacker, Fort Worth could not answer the Clayton goal. Wichita's Joe Blaznek set the final score at 6-4 when he scored into the Brahmas empty net at the 19:56 mark of the third.
Volp picked up the win in net for Wichita, turning away 20 of the 24 Fort Worth shots sent his way. Sterling took the loss for the Brahmas, allowing five Wichita goals on the 32 shots he faced.
The win for the Thunder, 27-17-6, was critical, as Wichita is now four points ahead of the Tulsa Oilers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northern Conference.
Fort Worth, 15-29-8, will next be in action on Tuesday, February 28, when they host the Lubbock Cotton Kings at 7:30 p.m at the WRMC. Tuesday's night's game is the first of four next week for the Brahmas at the Will. On Friday, March 3, Wichita will return to town for a 7:30 p.m. game. Then, on Saturday, March 4 (7:30 p.m.) and on Sunday, March 5 (3:00 p.m.), the Brahmas will take on the Austin Ice Bats on home ice. For additional information, please contact the Brahmas team office at (817) 336-4423.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2006
- Killer Bees edge Rayz, 3-1 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Degagne Grabs Shutout over Powerless Kings - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Bucks Beat Jackalopes 4-3 In OT - Laredo Bucks
- Thunder strike down Brahmas in third period - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Cotton Kings Game Night Preview vs. Amarillo - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Killer Bees game notes - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
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