Thunder Sweep Three Games in Indiana with Shootout Win
March 4, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Fort Wayne, IN (March 4th) - Trailing 2-0 late in the first period, Wichita (39-15-2) came from behind to tie the game and ended it in a shootout, winning the contest against Fort Wayne (36-17-4), 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Wichita outscored Fort Wayne 3-1 in the shootout as Matt Robinson, Thomas Beauregard and Matt Summers all scored for the Thunder. Dustin Donaghy finished with two points and Adam Russo earned his 25th win of the season, stopping 33 of 35 shots. The Thunder move four points ahead of Evansville for the top mark in the CHL and 11 points ahead of Allen in first place in the Berry Conference.
Fort Wayne scored twice in the first period in a three minute span. Bobby Chaumont caught a Leo Thomas pass and beat Thunder starter Adam Russo to give the Komets a 1-0 lead at 12:01. After killing off a five-on-three, the Komets capitalized on a two-on-one and Jean-Michel Rizk added to the lead at 15:09. Wichita got one back with under a minute to go in the first when Thomas Beauregard entered the zone on the left wing, put it across to Kevin Seibel (5) and his one-timer found the back of the net to make it 2-1.
In the second, Donaghy (7) tied the game at two when he got in behind the Fort Wayne defense and put a wrist shot past Komets goalie Nick Boucher's blocker from the right face-off circle.
The two teams skated to a scoreless third period and five minute overtime. Wichita scored in each of the first three rounds of the shootout as Robinson, Beauregard and Summers beat Boucher while Russo stopped three of the four shooters he faced and the Thunder earned the extra point.
The Thunder improves to 7-1 in shootouts this season and claimed all six points during the three-game road trip in the state of Indiana. Russo claimed his sixth shootout win, which is first in the league for goaltenders. Wichita wins the season-series 2-0 over Fort Wayne, extended its winning streak to five games and stopped the Komets winning streak at three.
Wichita closes out its five-game road swing with two games in Rapid City next Friday and Saturday and will not return to the Air Capital till March 14th against the Rush. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com .
Wichita Thunder playoff packages and season tickets for 2012-13 are now on sale. A $50 dollar non-refundable deposit is required for all season tickets. Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625 if you are interested in playoff packages or season tickets, or visit the fan relations table behind section 120 at any Wichita Thunder home game.
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