Hamaliuk, Second Period Drive Thunder Past Americans
WICHITA, KS – Dillon Hamaliuk scored twice in the Wichita Thunder scored three total goals in the second period to defeat the Allen Americans on Friday evening, 3-2. Jake Wahlin scored the other goal for Wichita and Strauss Mann made 29 saves in the victory. The win earned the Thunder points in their fourth straight game.
Neither team could light the lamp in the first period, as both Mann and Americans netminder Luke Peressini were spectacular through the first frame of the better of the play, outshooting the Thunder, 12-6.
In the second, Wichita jumped out in front, scoring two goals in the span of 38 seconds. The first came at 2:05. Dylan McPherson set up the play, moving out wide to create some space before finding Hamaliuk alone, who buried a one-timer for his third goal of the year.
Wahlin made the advantage two at the 2:43 mark. Billy Constantinou fired a shot from the point that Wahlin tipped past Peressini for his first goal of the year.
The Thunder were not done, extending the lead to three almost exactly 4 minutes later. With Wichita on the power-play, Hamaliuk took a pass from Mitchell Russell, then beat Peressini over the shoulder for his second goal of the contest.
The Thunder were in complete command, as Mann blanked Allen through the first two periods, stopping all 21 shots he faced. However, the Americans made this a game, scoring two goals in the final frame. The first came with Allen on the power-play when Thunder-killer Jack Combs scored his third goal of the year. Zach Pochiro fired a shot that Combs tipped past Mann to make it 3-1.
With five seconds left in the contest and Peressini on the bench, Allen would pull within a goal. Combs took a shot that Mann saved, but Colton Hargrove put in the loose puck for his second goal of the year.
With five seconds left, there was nothing the Americans could do to find the equalizer, as Wichita earned the victory. That moved the Thunder to 3-1-1, tied for second in the Mountain Division. Allen dropped to 2-3-0.
The Thunder head south to take on the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday evening. Tulsa enters the contest at 1-2-0, last in the Mountain Division. Game time is scheduled for 7:05.
by Robert Pannier
