Thunder's Comeback Erased by Rush
March 18, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder lost 6-3 to the Rapid City Rush on Wednesday night at the Kansas Coliseum. After rallying to take a 3-2 lead in the third period, the Rush scored two short handed goals on the same Thunder power play in a span of 12 seconds to regain the lead.
Wichita trailed 2-0 after the first before Marc Belanger threaded a goal to the short side of the net at 2:53 in the second to get Wichita on the scoreboard.
With both teams one man down, Cole Ruwe walked into a turnover in the slot and shot the puck past the left side of Rush goaltender Lanny Ramage to tie the game. The score at the 7:15 mark in the third was the first goal of Ruwe's professional career. At 9:09, Jason Duda wrapped in front of the crease and potted a backhand shot just under the corssbar to give the Thunder their first lead of the game.
During the next Thunder power play, R.G. Flath raced into Wichita's zone shorthanded and cleaned up his own rebound to knot the game at 3-3 at the 11:18 mark. 12 seconds later, Luke Fritshaw's clear attempt through the middle of the ice bounced over the stick of Thunder goaltender John Daigneau's stick to put the Rush back in front. Derek LeBlanc deflected a puck off the back of Daigneau's right pad at 14:54 in the third period for a power play goal, putting the Rush up by two for the first time since the second period. With less than five seconds left on the clock, John Pelle scored on an empty net for his second goal of the game to make it 6-3. With Wichita on the power play, it officially went down as the Rush's third short handed goal of the night.
Daigneau saved 32 of 37 in the loss, while Ramage stopped 31 of 34 for the win. Ruwe became the seventh Thunder player this season to score his first professional goal. Wichita went 0 for 8 on the power play, while Rapid City went 2 for 7.
The Thunder finishes the 2008-09 home schedule when they host the Tulsa Oilers on Friday night at the Coliseum at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
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