CHL Wichita Thunder

Wichita Powers Past Cutthroats with 5-3 Win

Published on December 1, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release


Denver, CO - The Wichita power play has been outstanding over the last five games and helped propel the Thunder (11-5-2) over the Denver Cutthroats (9-8-1) Friday night, 5-3 at the Denver Coliseum. Five players recorded multiple points including Kevin Young, who had three himself. Wichita extends their winning streak to five games, a season-high, and has won their last four on the road. The Thunder leads the season-series 1-0 with the second installment coming tomorrow night.

It didn't take long for the Thunder to grab an early lead, scoring just over a minute into the first period. Ian Lowe caught a pass from the behind the net and ripped a one-timer past Kieran Millan to make it 1-0. At the tail end of the first 20 minutes, Wichita extended their lead to 2-0 with another power play goal. Lowe made a nice play at the left circle, put the puck on net and Trimm banged home a rebound to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead. In the first, the Wichita power play saw time with a four minute man advantage, a five-on-three and a five-on-four situation.

In the second, Denver was awarded a power play and took advantage as A.J. Gale caught a pass from Troy Schwab to cut the lead to 2-1. At 14:48, Wichita scored their third power play goal of the game when Kevin Young blasted a one-timer from the right circle and gave the Thunder a 3-1 lead. The first four goals of the game were with the man advantage. As the second period was winding down, Denver scored to get the Thunder lead back to one. After a scramble in front of Kevin Regan, Brad Smyth was credited with a goal when the puck slipped through and just past the goal line. The official called for the goal judge and it was deemed that the puck cleared over the line, making it 3-2.

Wichita grabbed a two-goal lead at 11:35 of the third period on a beautiful play by Matt Summers. He stole the puck at the Cutthroats line, made a stick fake as he was coming towards the right side of the net, got Millan out of the crease and as he was standing behind the goal line put the puck in with his backhand to make it 4-2. Young recorded his second goal of the night 42 seconds later to make it 5-2 with a slap shot from the top of the left circle.

With two minutes remaining, RG Flath was hauled down from behind and was awarded a penalty shot, but was unable to get it past the leg pad of Millan to keep it at three-goal Thunder lead. Brad Smyth added a late tally for Denver on the power play, but it was not enough and the Thunder won by the final of 5-3.

Young recorded two goals and an assist. Lowe and Summers each had a goal and an assist. Todd Griffith and Nathan Lutz finished with two helpers while Regan earned his sixth victory of the season, stopping 30 of 33 shots on net.

Wichita went 3-for-5 on the power play while the Cutthroats were 2-for-4.

Wichita remains in Denver to take on the Cutthroats Saturday night before heading out to Rapid City for a meeting with the Rush on Tuesday, December 4th. The Thunder's next home game is not until December 7th when the Tulsa Oilers come to town for the first time since opening weekend. For tickets, call 755-SEAT, visit the INTRUST Bank Arena box office or online at www.selectaseat.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2012


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