Win-Streak Stopped at Five in Loss to Rush
January 24, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Rapid City, SD - Wichita (16-18-4) saw its five-game win streak snapped on Friday night, losing to the Rapid City Rush (26-10-0) by the final score of 6-3 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Matt Robinson, Andrew Martens and Jared Walker recorded goals in the losing effort for the Thunder. The Rush used a four-goal third period including two in the final minute that broke open a one-goal contest. Wichita trails in the season-series 0-4-0 and will face Rapid City tomorrow night to complete a two-game set this weekend.
The first period started with a quick pace that tilted towards the Rush in terms of the shot statistics, out-shooting Wichita 10-3. Neither team could find the back of the net in the first 20 minutes. The Thunder played much of the period shorthanded and were forced to start the second with two men in the box as Jon Madden was whistled for holding the stick at 18:13 and Walker for tripping at the horn.
Rapid City struck first in a high-scoring second frame as the two teams combined for five goals. Scott Wray tipped in a shot from Riley Weselowski at the tail end of the five-on-three power play to give the Rush a 1-0 lead at 1:42. Wichita answered with a Walker tally as he went up the ice, got around a defenseman and beat Keaton Hartigan from in-close at 12:38. Five minutes later, Rapid City was awarded a power play when Erick Lizon was called for charging and re-took the lead. Kyle Stroh recorded his eighth of the year 22 seconds into the man advantage to make it 2-1. The Thunder would score the next two to close out the period. Robinson answered the Rush marker 14 later receiving a a beautiful pass in the slot from Ian Lowe for his 17th of the season and evened the score at two. With 15 remaining in the period, Martens dished a pass off to Matt Summers at the Rapid City line, drove the net and tipped the shot on the way in that got past Hartigan. Wichita headed to the third period up 3-2 despite being out-shot 25-14.
It didn't take long for Rapid City to even things up in the third period. Just 50 seconds in, Konrad Reeder fired a shot from the top of the circles and followed up his own rebound that got past Taylor Nelson despite a ton of contact in the crease. At 10:28, Winston Day Chief recorded the eventual game-winner with a nice stick-handling move for his 20th of the season and made it 4-3. Wichita kept pressing, but couldn't get the equalizer. With just over a minute left, Nelson headed to the bench for the extra attacker as the Thunder had the puck in the offensive zone. Jesse Schultz was able to clear it up the penalty box side of the ice and scored an empty-netter that gave the Rush a 5-3 advantage. The Rush added another from Justin Faryna at 19:42 to close out the scoring at 6-3.
Wichita saw its win-streak snapped at five and road win-streak stopped at three. Martens tallied his sixth of the season and moved into first place in scoring by blue liners with 31 points. Robinson netted his 102nd goal of his Thunder career and has goals in back-to-back games. Jon Booras and Flath saw their point-streaks snapped as each were unable to find the score-sheet. Taylor Nelson suffered his sixth loss of the season, stopping 30 of 35 shots. Hartigan collected his seventh win of the year, stopping 18 of 21 shots.
Wichita went 0-for-3 on the power play. Rapid City was 2-for-5.
Wichita remains in the Black Hills tomorrow evening to take on the Rush at 8:05 p.m., which closes out a three-game road trip. The Thunder return home this upcoming Tuesday to host the Denver Cutthroats at 7:05 p.m.
Individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets and mini plans are still available. Don't delay, contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this off-season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.
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