ALLEN, Texas – Wichita scored four goals on special teams and Evan Buitenhuis made 30 saves en route to a season-opening victory by the final of 7-0 over rival, Allen, on Saturday night at the Allen Event Center.Five players had multi-point games led by Matteo Gennaro, who had five helpers. Stephen Johnson led all scorers with two goals and added an assist. Buitenhuis claimed his sixth-career shutout in the win.
Wichita didn’t waste any time jumping on the home team as Jay Dickman collected a rebound in the crease at 8:23 and beat Alexis Gravel to make it 1-0. Late in the first, Johnson scored his first of two on the night when he tipped home a shot from Gennaro on the power play to make it 2-0.
In the second, Johnson fired home a one-timer during a three-on-one break to increase the lead to 3-0. Just two minutes later, Wichita won an offensive-zone faceoff and Alex Peters scored his first of the year on the power play to make it 4-0. At 13:01, Andrew Shewfelt recorded his first as a pro from the right circle to make it 5-0.
The Thunder added two more in the third as Brayden Watts and Peter Crinella found the back of the net to close the scoring at 7-0, both of them coming on special teams. Wichita went 3-for-5 on the man advantage and added a shorthanded goal from Crinella.
Peters and Crinella finished with a goal and an assist. Watts had a goal and three helpers. Cam Clarke and Dean Stewart also added assists.
The Thunder closes out a two-game set in Allen tomorrow afternoon starting at 2:05 p.m.
The Thunder opens their home schedule on Friday, October 29 against the Utah Grizzlies and closes home-opening weekend on Saturday, October 30 as the Wheeling Nailers make their first-ever trip to the Air Capital.
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