For the second straight night, the Wichita Thunder jumped out to a big lead, this team getting ahead of the Missouri Mavericks 3-0 heading into the third period. However, despite the late run by the Mavericks that made this a one-goal game, the Thunder did not allow this game to get away from them, winning 4-2. The victory, which ended a nine-game winless streak, was aided greatly by Zach O’Brien, who helped out with 2-assists in his first game since joining Wichita.

The Wichita Thunder were looking to get off to a fast start following Friday’s heart-breaking loss. In that contest, the Thunder jumped out to a 4-0 lead, only to see the Mavericks battle back to tie the score with four unanswered goals in regulation and then winning in overtime.

Gerrad Grant gave the Thunder the lead at the halfway point of the first period. Ian Lowe took a shot that was saved, but the rebound was loose in front of the Missouri net. Grant battled hard to gain control of the puck and put it back in for his fourth goal of the season.

Wichita left the first period leading 1-0 and leading in shots 13-9. In the second, Missouri would dominate the period, outshooting the Thunder 9-5, but it would be Wichita that would capitalize on their opportunities.

The Mavericks came out of the locker room with a lot of urgency and were controlling play but, at the 8:05 mark, Blake Tatchell extended the Thunder lead. O’Brien carried the puck into the zone on a one-on-one, but Tatchell entered late turning the opportunity into a 2-on-1 situation. At the last second, O’Brien passed across the crease to Tatchell, who one-timed the puck into the net for his third goal of the season.

With a little less than a minute left in the period, Alexis Loiseau made the score 3-0. The all-star had struggled to get the puck in the net since returning from Binghamton a few weeks ago, but his scoreless drought ended when O’Brien gained control in the Missouri end following a turnover and passed out to Loiseau, who fired the puck into the net for his team leading 15th goal of the season.

The Wichita Thunder had a commanding lead, but the Mavericks proved the night before that they are never out of a contest, and they would provide the same lesson in this one as well. At the 3:13 mark, James Melindy was pushed into net, pushing the goal off its moorings. Kevin Tansey fired a shot into the dislodged net, but the referee ruled it a goal to make it 3-1.

With three minutes left in the game the Mavericks would make this a one-goal game. Andrew Courtney gained control of the puck in the Thunder end and beat Drew Owsley to make it 3-2. It was Courtney’s third goal of the season.

This contest had déjà vu written all over it, but Matt DeBlouw would seal the victory with an empty-net goal with 1:11 left in the contest. It was DeBlouw’s fourth goal of the season.

The victory ended a rut where the Thunder had gone 0-8-1. The team’s last victory was December 11 against Missouri, 4-3.

Zach O’Brien finished with 2-points in his first game since joining the Wichita Thunder. Drew Owsley earned the victory, stopping 28 of 30 shots he faced.

The Wichita Thunder return home where they will take on the Indy Fuel on Tuesday night. The puck drops at 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier