Thunder takes five of six points, increases lead for playoff spot
Published on February 26, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
THUNDER HOLDS OFF GORILLAS- The Thunder jumped out to a 4-1 lead on Tuesday then hung on for a 6-4 home win over the Amarillo Gorillas. Travis Clayton led the Thunder with a hat trick, which included a power play, shorthanded, empty net and game-winning goal. Jason Duda chipped in a pair of goals, while Ryan Lauzon also scored. Andrew Martin recorded the victory, making 43 saves.
STEELHOUNDS GET SHOOTOUT REVENGE- Three days after suffering a home shootout loss to the Thunder, Youngstown got revenge, taking a 3-2 shootout win at the Kansas Coliseum on Wednesday. Trailing 2-1 in the third period, Joe Blaznek tied the game, helping Wichita pick up a huge point in the race for the final playoff spot in the North. Scott Rozendal also scored for the Thunder.
THUNDER TAKES BIG ROAD WIN AT TULSA- Wichita jumped out to a 3-0 lead then hung on, taking a 3-2 win at Tulsa on Friday. Ryan Lauzon, Kris Wiebe and Travis Clayton picked up goals for the Thunder, who were held to a franchise-low, 12 shots on goal. Andrew Martin recorded the victory stopping 35 shots. The Thunder are now two games above .500 for the first time since November 17, at 6-4-1.
PLAYOFF UPDATE- With a month to go, the Thunder have taken a six-point lead over Tulsa for the final playoff spot in the Northern Conference. The two teams will meet just one more time, on Sunday, March 25 in Wichita "" the final day of the regular season. If the playoffs started today, Wichita would face Colorado, the number one seed, although Colorado, Memphis and Bossier-Shreveport are currently separated by just two points for the top seed in the Northern Conference.
MARTIN STEPS UP- Since goaltender Sebastien Laplante fell to injury; back up Andrew Martin has been phenomenal, going 3-0-1 in his four starts. Martin has been especially solid considering the fact that Wichita has been outshot 163-85 in those four games, which came over a span of six days. Martin has also appeared in Wichita's last six games, which have come over a span of just eight days.
ENDLESS FEBRUARY COMING TO AN END- The Thunder will wrap up the busiest February in team history on Tuesday night at the Coliseum versus Colorado, with their 16th game in 28 days. Wichita has gone 6-5-4 for the month, including a 4-5-1 road record. The Thunder have been off for the last three days, the first time since January 29-31 that they have had more than two consecutive days off.
HOME SWEET HOME- The Thunder has gone 14-5-5 at the Coliseum this season and has not lost at home in regulation in over two months. Since falling to Amarillo, 5-3, the night after Christmas, Wichita is 7-0-4 in their last 11 home games. The Thunder will play eight of their final 13 games at home. The 1993-94 Thunder team recorded a point in their final 18 games of the season, going 16-0-2.
CLAYTON HITS 300- With his fifth career Thunder hat trick (two have come in the postseason) on Tuesday, 10-year veteran Travis Clayton became just the third player in CHL history to record 300 goals. With 303, Clayton now trails only Joe Burton (565) and Paul Jackson (312) on the all-time list. 11-year veteran Jason Duda ranks fourth all-time with 297 career CHL goals.
ROSTER UPDATE- With Sebastien Laplante expected to miss at least another week, the Thunder signed third-year pro Guy St. Vincent. St. Vincent went 2-0-0 for Bossier-Shreveport this season. He has also played for Memphis and New Mexico in the CHL.
THUNDERBOLTS- Ryan Lauzon is riding a five-game scoring streak...Joe Blaznek is second in the CHL with seven game-winning goals...Ryan McLean ranks third in the CHL with 226 penalty minutes...Sebastien Laplante is still tied for the CHL-lead with a .928 save percentage...The Thunder ranks fourth in the CHL in penalty killing, at 86.2%...Wichita has given up a CHL-high 18 shorthanded goals.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
Tuesday, February 20- Amarillo 4 at Wichita 6 Win
Wednesday, February 21- Youngstown 3 at Wichita 2 Loss (SO)
Friday, February 23- Wichita 3 at Tulsa 2 Win
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
Tuesday, February 27- Colorado at Wichita 7:05 PM
Friday, March 2- Oklahoma City at Wichita 7:05 PM
Saturday, March 3- Wichita at Oklahoma City 7:35 PM
Sunday, March 4- Amarillo at Wichita 5:05 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-
Goaltender Andrew Martin 2-0-1 Record
Central Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2007
- Scorpions remain on top in Southwest Division - New Mexico Scorpions
- Oakley CHL Player & Goaltender of the Week Announced - CHL
- Bes Captures Player Of The Week - Laredo Bucks
- SteelHounds Weekly Report - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Thunder takes five of six points, increases lead for playoff spot - Wichita Thunder
- Chris Mei tonight's guest on Rayz Round-Up - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bees Weekly Update - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Arvanitis Granted Leave of Absence - Oklahoma City Blazers
- Jackalopes Gear Up for Three More Home Games - Odessa Jackalopes
- Derrick McIver called up to AHL - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Really Getting Bugged - Tulsa Oilers
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