The final contest before Christmas proved to be anything but a merry event as the Missouri Mavericks came to Wichita and defeated the Thunder 4-0. Ville Husso blanked Wichita, stopping all 33-shots to give opponents their third shutout against the Thunder this season. Darren Nowick added a goal and an assist.

The Mavericks dominated this game from the start. Exactly two minutes into the contest, Missouri was on the power-play and they would capitalize. Rocco Carzo tipped a shot on goal that Drew Owsley made a great save on, but Darren Nowick put the rebound back on goal for his ninth goal of the season to make it 1-0.

A little over four minutes later the Mavericks would get on the board again. The Thunder had a great scoring chance but were stopped, and Missouri came out of their end with great speed. Sam Povorozniouk carried the puck into the Wichita end and sped in front of the net, beating the defender before putting a shot over Owsley’s shoulder for his 11th goal of the season.

The Mavericks had the opportunity to extend the lead to at least four, but Owsley made two great saves on Dane Fox. The first came at 13:30 when he fired a shot where the Thunder goalie made a nice save. At the 17 minute mark he tipped a puck that had the back of the net written all over it, but Owsley came up big again to keep it a two-goal game.

The second period began with the Thunder looking like they would get one of those goals back. Just before the two minute mark, Vincent Arseneau came in on a breakaway down the left side, but Ville Husso made a nice save to keep the puck out of the net.

Wichita drew a power-play a little less than four minutes into the period looking to cut into the lead, but they would find the lead extended. The Mavericks cleared the puck down to the Thunder end, but Owsley misplayed the puck behind the net. Shawn Pauly pulled the puck in front of the goal and fired it into the empty net to make it 3-0. The short-handed goal was his third tally of the season.

A little over eight minutes into the second period it looked like the lead would be four. The Thunder goalie was out of position and Missouri had an open goal, but Jamie Doornbosch somehow was able to backhand to puck out of the net before it completely crossed the line to keep it a three goal game.

In the final 2:30 of the period the Missouri Mavericks had four big chances to score again, but Owsley came up big in each instance. This game would have gotten out of hand had it not been for the Wichita keeper.

The Thunder killed off two 5-3 disadvantages in the third period, and actually had better scoring chances than the Mavericks. However, a fluke goal would extend the lead to four. Tyler Elbrecht’s shot tipped off a Thunder player and into the Wichita goal to make it 4-0. It was the second goal of the season for Elbrecht.

Ville Husso stopped all 33-shots he faced for his fourth win of the season. Nowick recorded the first goal of the game and added an assist on the final goal.

The Wichita Thunder are off until Wednesday when they will take on the Allen Americans. Game time is 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier