NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – Aaron Davis scored with :09.1 seconds left in overtime to give Wichita (17-7-0) a 4-3 win against the Texas Brahmas (12-8-5) at the NYTEX Sports Centre Sunday afternoon.
Davis took the initial shot from Thomas Beauregard off his shin pad and redirected into the net to keep the Thunder in a first place tie with the Allen Americans with 34 points in the Berry Conference.
Alex Bourret scored five minutes into the game to get things started as he took a one-timer and pinged it off the cross bar to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Bourret now has a six game point streak, scoring 14 points in that span (5 G, 9 A).
Texas sniper Chad Woollard tied the game at the 18:21 mark as he got behind the Thunder defense and beat Wichita starter Ryan MacDonald through the five hole.
In the second period, Beauregard gave Wichita a 2-1 lead as he collected a Bourret pass at the top of the right circle, skated in and beat Brahmas goalie Mark Guggenberger. Beauregard has scored in four of the last six and is currently riding a six game point streak, scoring 12 points (5 G, 7 A).
Newcomer R.G. Flath scored a power play goal at the 10:56 mark to give Wichita a 3-1 lead. Bourret skated from the right corner, passed it back to the near side of the net for Flath where he found the back of the net. In his first two games since joining the team, Flath has 3 points (1 G, 2 A).
Just over three minutes later, Texas cut the lead to one when defenseman Ross Rouleau put in his own rebound to make it 3-2.
The Brahmas’ T.J. Fox tied the game at three at the 16:19 mark with a power play goal, catching a Chad Woollard pass across the ice on the left wing and scoring his sixth of the season.
For the first time in 17 games, Wichita was not able to decide the game in regulation and was forced into overtime.
Beauregard skated away from the Brahmas defense and was pulled down at 2:21 of the overtime, giving Wichita its fourth penalty shot of the season. Beauregard tried to go glove side on Guggenberger, but Guggenberger was up to the task and kept the game tied.
At 4:23, Ross Rouleau was called for slashing and Wichita capitalized. Beauregard’s one-timer pinballed off Aaron Davis with nine seconds remaining and gave Wichita its first win in overtime this season, 4-3.
With the win, Wichita has now won five straight and its first at the NYTEX Sports Centre since the Brahmas returned to the CHL in 2007. Previously, Wichita was 0-7-0 against Texas in their building.
The win kept Wichita in a first place tie with Allen at the top of the Berry Conference, closing out a busy week for the Thunder of four games in six days.
The following images were recorded during Sunday afternoon’s contest at the NYTEX Sports Centre.
Wichita defenseman Kevin Seibel and Brahmas forward Dan Nicholls collide at the end boards.
Brahmas defenseman Jacques Perreault moves the puck up ice Michael Jordan style.
Wichita%27s Dustin Donaghy and Brahmas captain Adam Hogg collide.
Wichita captain Andrew Martens sets up for a pass.
Wichita%27s Aaron Davis sends the puck to a teammate.
Brahmas forward Dan Nicholls blocks a shot with his left ankle.
Brahmas forward Thomas Galiani moves into the fray.
Wichita defenseman Justin Sawyer blocks Texas%27 Brendon Hodge.
Wichita goalie Ryan MacDonald prepares to make a save on Jordan Kary%27s assault.
Wichita%27s Aaron Davis celebrates his game-winning goal.
Wichita is on the road to face the Quad City Mallards on Friday, December 23rd and the Tulsa Oilers on Christmas Day. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05 pm CST.
Contact the editor/photographer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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