Bates Scores in OT to give Thunder Second Straight Win
WICHITA, KS – Peter Bates scored his second goal of the game 2:15 into overtime to give the Wichita Thunder a 4-3 victory over the Rapid City Rush. Bates finished with three points and Trevor Gorsuch earned his second victory in as many games since joining the Thunder. The win moved the Thunder into second in the Mountain Division.
After a scoreless first period, Gavin Gould gave his team the lead 4:03 into the second. Bates set up the play, moving through the slot while still maintaining control of the puck. He found Gould near the bottom of the left faceoff circle, who fired a shot that beat Daniil Chechelev to make it 1-0. It was the fifth goal of the season for Gould.
At 6:33, Bates made it 2-0 with his 19th goal of the year. Michal Stinil made a beautiful no-look backhand pass to the left post where Bates redirected the puck past the Rapid City netminder to make it 2-0.
Max Coatta cut the deficit to one just before the 10 minute mark. Coatta took a pass from Keanu Yamamoto, then lifted a wrist shot by Gorsuch to make it 2-1. That would be the score entering the second break.
Jon Martin tied the score 1:18 into the second when he scored his 13th goal of the year. Ilya Nikolaev made his way through the neutral zone, fending off a check before moving in on Gorsuch. He then found Martin near the crease, who put the puck by the Thunder netminder.
Wichita retook the lead 34 seconds later. Xavier Pouliot battled up the right wall, somehow maintaining control of the puck. He then fired a shot that Chechelev saved, but Allison put in the rebound to make it 3-2. It was the first professional goal for Allison.
It looked like the Thunder would hang on to the victory, but Nikolaev tied the score with 61 seconds left in the game, taking a shot from the high slot that found its way through traffic and in.
In the extra session, Brayden Watts made a pass to Bates at the left faceoff circle, who lifted a wrist shot that beat Chechelev for the game-winner. Gorsuch made 40 saves for Wichita.
The victory moved Wichita (32-32-6) a point ahead of the Allen Americans, but Allen has three games in hand. The Thunder will take on the Rapid City Rush (31-33-4) again on Friday. The puck drops at 7:05.
By Robert Pannier
