RAPID CITY, SD – The Wichita Thunder found themselves trailing by a goal coming out of the first period on Saturday, but responded with four unanswered tallies to earn a 4-1 victory over the Rapid City Rush. Timur Ibragimov scored the first two goals and Quinn Preston added two of his own in the victory. Wichita was woefully outshot, but Evan Buitenhuis made 44 saves to help lead the way.

Rapid City took the lead with just under four minutes left in the first. Max Coatta passed the puck to Brett Gravelle, who lifted a wrist shot past Buitenhuis for his third goal of the year.

Rapid City had controlled much of the play in the first frame, outshooting the Thunder 18-10 in a wide-open affair. The second period was quite similar, as the Rush once again outshot Wichita, this time 19-12. However, it would be the Thunder scoring twice in the period thanks to Ibragimov.

The San Jose Sharks prospect tied the score at 8:13. With Wichita on the power-play, Brayden Watts fed a pass from the right face-off circle across to the left to Ibragimov, who beat Rapid City netminder Adam Carlson with a one-timer.

A little over five minutes later, it was Ibragimov giving his team the lead. With Rapid City on the power-play, he made a great move at the blueline, stealing the puck before heading the other direction on a breakaway. As he moved in on Carlson, then tucked the puck just inside the post for his fourth goal of the year.

Wichita held a one goal advantage into the final frame, but Preston put this game away, adding two goals, including an empty net tally. The first came at 4:28 when he caught a long outlet passed by Cole McDonald. Preston moved in on a partial breakaway, beating Carlson with a wrist shot to make it 3-1.

With 31 seconds left in the game, Preston received a pass from Watts, then put the puck in the empty net for his sixth goal of the year. Watts earned his 100th career ECHL point with the helper, and has four assists in the last three games.

For Preston and Ibragimov, it was the first multi-goal performances of their career. McDonald and Watts each had two assists in the contest.

The Wichita Thunder (12-8-2) moved into a tie with Rapid City for second place in the Mountain Division (26 points). The team continues their five-game road trip on Friday when they travel to Allen to take on the Americans (6-12-1). The puck drops at 7:05.

Gamesheet

by Robert Pannier