Americans Rally to Down Thunder in Allen
ALLEN, TX – The Wichita Thunder held a 2-1 advantage heading into the final frame on Friday evening, but the Allen Americans rallied for three goals in the third period to earn a 4-2 victory. Four different Americans players scored goals in the contest, including Kris Myllari, who delivered the game-winner. Michal Stinil had a goal and an assist for the Thunder.
Much of the first 40 minutes of this contest was dominated by the Thunder. However, it would be the Americans jumping out on top, as Liam Finlay scored his 10th goal of the season 15:23 in the game. Two Wichita players collided entering the Allen zone, allowing the Americans to move the other way. Jack Combs made a no look, one touch backhand pass to Finlay just after he entered the zone. Finlay then swept across the net, getting Thunder netminder Strauss Mann down on the ice before lifting a wrist shot past the sprawling goaltender to make it 1-0.
Wichita responded right away, scoring 41 seconds later. A great tic-tac-toe series of passes set up the goal. Stinil passed the puck from the blueline across the slot to Brayden Watts just below the left face-off circle. He made a one touch pass across the slot to Quinn Preston, who buried the shot for his seventh goal of the year.
The score remained tied through the first frame, with Wichita outshooting Allen, 13-6. The Thunder continued to put the pressure on in the second, and Stinil gave the team the lead with his 10th goal of the season 4:32 into the period. The Americans were attempting to clear the puck out of their zone, but a terrible pass right on the stick of Stinil, who moved in on Kevin Mandolese before lifting a wrist shot that beat the Americans netminder to make it 2-1.
Mann had been solid to the first two periods, but the Americans scored three goals on just seven shots in the final frame to skate away with the victory. Zachary Massicotte tied the score 8:05 in the period. With the Americans on the power-play, Jackson Leppard moved the puck to Zach Pochiro, who was just below the goal line. He moved out toward the front of the net before dishing it across the slot to Massicotte, who buried a one timer for his second goal of the year.
Just before the 13-minute mark, Myllari gave his team the lead. Chad Butcher led a breakout from his own end, passing the puck ahead to Pochiro, who fed it back to Butcher. The former Thunder forward took a shot that Mann saved, but the puck was loose in front of the net. Myllari was able to swoop in and knock home the loose puck to make it 3-2.
With 22 seconds left in the contest, Combs netted his 13th tally of the year, an empty net goal to make it 4-1. That would be the final.
Mandolese stopped 37 shots to earn the victory. Mann dropped his first regulation loss for the Thunder, moving to 4-1-1.
The Wichita Thunder (12-9-2) will square off against Allen (7-13-1) again on Saturday. The puck drops at 7:05.
By Robert Pannier