ALLEN, Texas – Playing in another one-goal contest, Wichita’s (16-11-1-4) comeback bid fell short on Sundayafternoon, losing 3-2 to Allen (22-5-1-2) at the Allen Event Center. The Thunder’s four-game winning streak comes to an end while the Americans have won their last three. Ian Duval and Nikita Kashirsky picked up goals in the losing effort. The season-series is tied at 3-3-0-0 and Wichita will return to Allen for a pair of games in two weeks.
After a scoreless and entertaining first period, the two teams combined for four goals in the second. Rylan Schwartz got things started one minute in when he stole the puck in the neutral zone, skated down on a break-a-way and beat Tyler Bunz to grab a 1-0 lead for Allen. Duval netted his second of the year on his second break-a-way chance as he slipped it just inside the left post on Riley Gill to even the score at one. The Thunder appeared to take the lead when Danick Gauthier had a wide open look from just in front of the Allen crease, but his wrist shot was blocked and the game stayed tied.
The Americans scored the next two of the period starting at 11:44. Kyle Follmer picked up a loose puck and banged home a rebound past Bunz to make it 2-1. At 15:50, Tyler Ludwig connected on a power play goal in the slot as he cut down to the net and scored his sixth of the season.
In the third, Wichita came out strong and had several scoring opportunities in the first few minutes. Kashirksy put home a rebound at 12:56 to pull the Thunder within one with assists to Todd Hosmer and RG Flath. The Thunder attempted to pull Bunz with a minute remaining in regulation, but a whistle stopped play forcing him back into the net with a face-off outside the Thunder blue line. Wichita didn’t get another chance to pull him as Allen hemmed the Thunder in their own end down the stretch and lost by the final of 3-2.
Wichita’s record drops to 7-3-1-4 in one-goal games and extends its streak to eight-straight that have been decided by a single marker. Lowe picks up his 19th assist of the year and has points in his last eight (5g, 6a). His goal-scoring streak comes to an end at four-straight, but takes over the team-lead in points with 31. Duval pushed his scoring streak to seven games with his second tally of the season (2g, 6a) and also has points in 10 of the last 11 games. Meland grabbed his 10th assist and has points in his last four outings (1g, 3a). Bunz suffered his seventh loss of the year, stopping 35 of 38 shots. Gill claimed his 16th win of the season, stopping 26 of 28 shots he faced.
Wichita went 0-for-3 on the power play. Allen was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Wichita continues its three-game road trip on Wednesday night at the I-Wireless Center for the first time this season against Quad City at 7:05 p.m.
With Wichita Thunder team release
Contact the photographer: Kimberly.Sauer@prohockeynews.com
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