Since I will have three games to write about later this week, I decided to throw the Tuesday night game against Fort Wayne in this week in review.
The week started out quite dim for Wichita. In two previous meetings with Allen, Wichita was 2-0. This game turned out quite differently for the Thunder. After gaining a two goal lead, Wichita squandered it, giving up three straight goals. Justin Sawyer salvaged the second period, netting his first goal of the season to help Wichita to a 3-3 tie going into the third period. But special teams killed Wichita in the third. Allen scored twice on the power play and Wichita failed to convert on a brief five on three advantage and that proved to be the difference, as Allen took one from the Thunder 5-3.
The next night in the Dallas swing was not any more kind to the Thunder. Wichita once again took a two goal lead before allowing Texas to slowly chip away. The Thunder went into the third period leading 2-1 when the Kyle Howarth show started. At the nine minute mark, Howarth scored to tie the game, and with less than a minute left in regulation scored his second marker of the game. That goal proved to be the game winner. Wichita again failed to score on the power play and left Texas 0-2 on the trip.
Saturday night the Thunder returned home to Intrust Bank Arena to face Texas for the second straight night. Wichita once again jumped out to an early lead and it wasn't until the third period where things got interesting. Chad Wollard tied the game just over four minutes into the Third. But this time Wichita would answer. Matt Summers took a centering feed from Thomas Beauregard and buried what would become the game winning goal. Adam Russo stood on his head and stopped 19 of 20 shots for the win.
Tuesday brought the return of the Fort Wayne Komets. It also brought the return of Dave Starenky and Jesse Bennefield, former Thunder players. This game was an opposite of the first two games of the week. Fort Wayne jumped out to a two to nothing lead in the first period. In what looked to be a disappointing start to the new week would turn around real quick. Wichita scored three unanswered goals in the third period to take a 3-2 lead into the third period. Tom Mele tied the game nine minutes into the third period, but a little over a minute later Thomas Beauregard gave the Thunder the lead for good. Alex Bourret iced the game with an empty net goal, and quite the impressive celebration I might add. Adam Russo won his second straight game and tenth overall for the season.
Wichita finished this four game stretch going two and two. But there continues to be a glaring gap for Wichita. Special teams. The Thunder have the third worst penalty kill in the league and the fourth worst power play. In the four game stretch I just covered Wichita went 0 for 14 overall on the power play. Not a single power play goal scored in four games. If this team wants to make a deep playoff run, which in my opinion they have the roster to do, they must start scoring on the power play. Chris Chappell and Alex Bourret have played well on the penalty kill, but power play goals against have proven to be killers this year. Tighten up the special teams and this could be a very dangerous team. In my opinion this has been the biggest downfall for the team. Not many improvements need to be made, but this is one that absolutely has to change.
Until next time.
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