Balanced Attack Gives Thunder Win in Tulsa

Tulsa, OK (March 11th) - Four different players found the back of the net and Nick Ropel stopped 28 of 29 shots to help Wichita knock off Tulsa by the final of 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the BOK Center.

With the win, Wichita moves four points ahead of Allen for third place in the Mountain Division and five points in front of Tulsa.

Ryan Van Stralen had three points, Ralph Cuddemi and Mark MacMillan had a goal and an assist to lead the Thunder offense.

Wichita jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Van Stralen made it 1-0 at 3:48 as he re-directed a pass from Cuddemi that got through Devin Williams. Cuddemi increased the lead to 2-0 at 8:50 of the opening frame. MacMillan got to a loose puck at the Wichita line, skated up the left wing and found Cuddemi behind a Tulsa defenseman. He made no mistake about it and beat Williams to the glove side.

Ryan Tesink cut the lead to one at 8:26 of the second. Wichita killed off a two-man advantage, but couldn't get the puck out of the zone. Tesink came down the slot and beat Nick Riopel for his 11th of the season. MacMillan re-gained a two-goal advantage for the Thunder at 17:08. Van Stralen made a terrific pass to the back door and MacMillan buried it for his 17th of the year.

In the third, Jon Puskar made it 4-1 as he caught a pass near the Tulsa line from Chad Butcher, walked in all alone and beat Williams.

Wichita grabbed its 32nd win of the year, which is a new franchise high for wins since joining the ECHL. Van Stralen finished with a goal and two assists. Cuddemi potted his team-leading 26th of the season.

Wichita went 0-for-4 on the power play. Tulsa was 0-for-5 on the man advantage.

The Thunder will make their first trip of the season to the Black Hills next weekend against Rapid City starting Friday at 8:05 p.m. CST.

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