Wichita Drops Regular Season Finale in a Shootout
April 15, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
ALLEN, TX - In a wild game that saw Wichita come back from a three-goal deficit, the Thunder fell on Saturday night in Game 72 of the regular season to Allen, 5-4, in a shootout at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.
Wichita earned a point, but will fall just short of qualifying for the postseason.
Gavin Gould led the way for the Thunder while Cole MacDonald, Peter Bates and Brett Boeing also found the net.
Boeing put the Thunder on the board first just 3:50 into the game. Brayden Watts found him through the high slot and he fired a wrist shot past Kevin Mandolese for his sixth of the season.
Allen answered at 9:22 when Liam Finlay popped home a rebound near the blue paint for his 32nd of the year to tie the game.
Jakov Novak gave the Americans a 2-1 lead at 12:19. Wichita turned the puck over off a rush in the offensive zone. Zachary Massicotte fed a long stretch-pass up to Jack Combs for an odd-man chance. Novak fired home a one-timer for his sixth of the season.
In the second, Novak added another to increase the lead to 3-1. He came up the left wall and fired a shot to the slot. The puck hit a body in front and found its way past Trevor Gorsuch.
At 11:49, Finlay added his second of the contest as he won a faceoff at the left circle. He walked through and fired a shot past Gorsuch to make it 4-1.
MacDonald cut the lead to 4-2 as he centered a pass near the left post that found its way past Mandolese for his 11th of the season.
In the third, Wichita scored twice and forced overtime. Gould stripped the puck from a defenseman in the left corner, came around the net and wrapped it past Mandolese to make it 4-3.
Gorsuch was pulled for the extra attacker and the Thunder called their timeout with 49 seconds remaining. Jay Dickman found Bates across the goal-mouth and he beat Mandolese to tie the game at four.
In the extra period, Allen had two breakaways just seconds apart, but Gorsuch stopped Hank Crone and Finlay.
Colby McAuley was then whistled for a hook at 4:24 of the extra session to give Wichita a four-on-three power play. Mandolese stood tall, including a huge save on Dickman near the left post to keep the game going.
Neither team could find the go-ahead goal and the contest went into a shootout.
Allen tallied two goals in the penalty-shot round from Combs and Crone. Dickman and Watts were denied and the Americans earned the extra point.
Wichita was 0-for-3 on the power play. Allen was 0-for-5 with the man advantage and 0-for-10 over the last two days against the Thunder.
The Thunder appeared in a shootout for just the second time during the regular season. MacDonald has points in back-to-back games. Dickman has four points in his last three contests. Preston extended his point-streak to five outings.
Our final special jersey of the season will be worn this Friday as we host the Allen Americans. Fans can bid on them starting this Friday night on the DASH Auction App, presented by J.P. Weigand & Sons Auction Division. Click here to bid. To see the jersey reveal, click here.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now. Get our Tax Day Sale, which ends at the end of April. Click here to learn more and find out what you get for taking advantage of this great offer early.
ECHL Stories from April 15, 2023
- Cyclones Finish Historic 2022-23 Regular Season - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wichita Drops Regular Season Finale in a Shootout - Wichita Thunder
- Oilers Fall to Grizzlies in Final Game of 2022-23 - Tulsa Oilers
- K-Wings Knotch Trio in 2nd, Walleye Surge Back at Home - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nearly 4000 Fans Watch Nardella Hat Trick, Landers 4-2 Win - Iowa Heartlanders
- Railers Down to Must-Win Game on Sunday - Worcester Railers HC
- Toledo Escapes Three-Goal Deficit to Win on Goaldiggers Tribute Night - Toledo Walleye
- Heartlanders Take Season Finale, 4-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Sylvester Scores 38th of Season; Gladiators Lose Final Game - Atlanta Gladiators
- Biggest Crowd of Season Lifts Everblades to Win - Florida Everblades
- Playoff Spot on the Line Sunday After 5-1 Victory - Adirondack Thunder
- Growlers Downed 6-2 by Royals - Newfoundland Growlers
- Stingrays Clinch the South Division Behind Shootout Win - South Carolina Stingrays
- Swamp Rabbits Announce Kelly Cup Playoff Schedule for First Round - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Admirals Can't Solve DiPietro More Than Twice, Drop Contest to Maine - Norfolk Admirals
- Seven Different Goal Scorers Lift Mariners over Admirals - Maine Mariners
- Weiland Parrish Activated off Injured Reserve - Rapid City Rush
- ECHL Transactions - April 15 - ECHL
- Thunder Finishes Regular Season Tonight in Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Adam Carlson Named 2023 Blaine Jarvis Heart and Soul Award Winner - Rapid City Rush
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Game Preview: Tonight's Game against Wichita Is Sold Out - Allen Americans
- Mavericks Have Chance to Secure Home-Ice Advantage in Regular Season Finale Tonight - Kansas City Mavericks
- Grizzlies Gameday: Playoff Spot on the Line at Maverik Center - Utah Grizzlies
- Royals Round out Regular Season, Honor Fans on Fandemonium Night - Reading Royals
- Gorsuch Spectacular in Win vs. Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Grizz Defeat the Oilers 5-3 at Maverik Center - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
