WICHITA, KS – Jay Dickman scored the game-winner 10:12 into the third period to give the Wichita Thunder a 3-2 victory over the Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday evening. Dickman, Peter Crinella, Stefan Fournier, and Alex Peters each had two points in the contest and Olivier Rodrigue stopped 23 shots to earn the victory. The Thunder are now 7-0-2 over their last nine games.

Neither team could find the back the net in the first frame, as Idaho limited Wichita, holding them to four shots. Rodrigue made eight shots in the period, including a big opportunity at 9:41 when the puck bounced to the opposite side of the net for Casey Johnson, who looked like he had a wide open opportunity, but Rodrigue was able to get his pad out to knock the puck down.

The Steelheads finally broke through it 2:26 of the second period. With Wichita facing a delayed penalty, Zach Walker fired a shot that hit off the glass and bounce right out in front to Shawn McBride who put the puck in for his 10th goal of the year.

Wichita responded almost exactly 4 minutes later, tying the score on the 17th goal of the season by Crinella. With the Thunder on the power-play, Crinella took a pass from Fournier near the net. He gained control before sliding a shot between the legs of Idaho netminder Colton Point to tie the score at one.

Just after the 14-minute mark, Walker gave the Steelheads back the lead. Matt Tugnutt moved the puck down along the boards to Walker in the corner. He came out of the corner, moving along the goal line before beating Rodrigue to make it 2-1.

Idaho looked like they would head into the locker room for the second intermission by a goal, but Michal Stinil tied the score with 21 seconds left in the period. Peters moved the puck out of the Thunder end and into the neutral zone where Stinil outraced Darren Brady for the puck. Brady was able to poke the puck away and into the corner where Stinil gained control. The Thunder forward tried to make a pass into the slot, but it hit off a skate and through the legs of Point giving Stinil his 10th goal of the year.

The score remained tied through the first 10 minutes of the third period, but Dickman gave his team their first lead of the contest, 10:12 into the frame. Fournier came behind the net looking to put a backhand wraparound attempt past Point. The puck slid across the crease to Dickman, who put the puck in for his 16th goal of the year.

Rodrigue preserved the lead from there, stopping four shots over the final two minutes to give the Wichita Thunder a 3-2 victory. The victory moved Rodrigue to 3-1-1 while lowering his goals-against average 2.96.

The Wichita Thunder (20-21-7) will welcome the Allen Americans (21-18-6) to INTRUST Bank Arena on Friday evening. This is the first of a home and home series. The puck drops at 7:05.

Gamesheet

By Robert Pannier