Combs Spoils Buitenhuis Gem as Americans Win in OT
ALLEN, TX – Jack Combs scored 30 seconds into overtime to give the Allen Americans a 2-1 victory over the Wichita Thunder on Saturday evening. The loss spoiled a fantastic performance by Wichita netminder Evan Buitenhuis, who made 34 saves in the game. Luke Peressini earned the victory, making 21 saves. Mark Liwiski scored the only goal for Wichita, scoring on a penalty shot late in the second period. It was the first goal of his professional career.
Allen jumped out to a 1-0 lead, scoring just after the 10 minute mark. Zach Pochiro fired a shot that Buitenhuis saved, but Hank Crone was able to knock the puck in for his first goal of the season. The one goal lead held for the next 29 minutes, but a great outlet pass by Dominic Dockery sprung Liwiski on a breakaway. As he approached Peressini, the Thunder forward was dragged down, drawing penalty shot.
Liwiski methodically moved his way in on the Americans netminder, sweeping across the net before going with a backhand attempt. Peressini got his glove on the puck, but actually deflected it back toward the goal line, as the disc trickled over for a goal. That was the first penalty shot the Wichita Thunder had scored on since 2017.
From there, the goaltenders dominated. Buitenhuis had been spectacular since giving up the early tally, recording 10 saves in the first, 12 in the second, and 13 in the third. That included a number of spectacular saves in the final frame, keeping this a tie game.
Peressini was not nearly tested like the Thunder netminder, but performed very well in this contest, especially in the second. That is when Wichita produced 10 shots.
The game went to overtime, but did not last long. A missed pass connection in the Americans zone sent Allen heading the other direction. Kris Myllari carried the puck through the neutral zone and into the Wichita end. That is where Combs crashed the net, taking the Myllari pass and deflecting it by Buitenhuis for the game-winner.
The loss dropped the Thunder to 1-1-1 while Allen moved to 2-1-0. These two teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon. The puck drops it 2:00.
By Robert Pannier
