HIDALGO, Texas – Alex Bourret netted a hat trick, scoring short-handed, at even strength and on an empty net, as the Wichita Thunder defeated the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 4-2 on Thursday night in front of 3,089 fans at State Farm Arena.
The win moves Wichita within one game of clinching the best-of-seven Berry Conference Semi-Final series. For the fourth-straight game, the Killer Bees got on the board first, but Bourret’s effort, along with a shorthanded goal by R.G. Flath and a solid effort from goalie Adam Russo secured the Thunder’s third comeback victory in the series. Bourret’s first goal of the night came shorthanded late in the opening period, tying the score 1-1. With Flath off for a slashing penalty, Chris Chappell stole the puck and sent it to Bourret who beat Rio Grande Valley’s John Murray with 28-seconds remaining in the period. Murray was solid in net until that point, stopping 20 of 21 Thunder chances in the first.
Wichita eventually out-shot Rio Grande Valley 42-24. The Thunder would add two more scores within the first three minutes of the second period as they continued to increase their offensive pressure. Bourret added an even-strength goal just 29-seconds into the period, as his shot deflected into the net off of a Bees defender, giving Wichita a 2-1 lead. Flath added his tally at the three minute mark, beating Murray on a shorthanded two-on-one opportunity to make it 3-1.
Dan Gendur cut the Thunder lead to one, taking advantage of a Wichita turnover and firing a shot past Russo from the slot at 9:07. Russo would be flawless the rest of the way, turning away all nine shots he faced. Bourret finished his bid for the hat trick with 13-seconds remaining on an unassisted, empty-net goal, making the final score 4-2. He became the second Thunder player to complete a hat trick this series – R.G. Flath’s hat trick in game one last Friday resulted in another 4-2 Thunder win. The two teammates are in a four-way tie for most goals scored in the playoffs with four each. Brady Leavold opened the scoring for Rio Grande Valley, sending a wrist shot past Russo from the right side at 10:20 of the first while on the power play. The opening period saw plenty of penalties with both teams combining for 20 penalty minutes and six power plays. The Bees were one-for-seven on the man advantage while the Thunder were unsuccessful on five tries. Wichita has not been able to convert on the man advantage this series, going 0-for-15 through four games while Rio Grande Valley has had marginal success, converting three-of-17 chances. The series now shifts back to Wichita for a possible deciding Game Five on Saturday night at 7:05 pm. Wichita is 4-0 against Rio Grande Valley at home this season. Contact the writer at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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