Game Day Capsule: Wichita at Quad City, January 9th

WICHITAHOME: 10-5-0-2AWAY: 6-6-2-2OVERALL: 16-11-2-4

LEADING SCORERSLowe, 32 pts (12g, 20a)Gauthier, 30 pts (14g, 16a)Miller, 27 pts (10g, 17a)

QUAD CITYHOME: 8-6-1-0AWAY: 9-6-2-2OVERALL: 17-12-3-2

LEADING SCORERSLamoureux, 34 pts (12g, 22a)Perry, 31 pts (16g, 15a)Fox, 29 pts (11g, 18a)

HEAD TO HEAD - This is the fifth of 12 meetings between the Thunder and the Mallards. Wichita is 6-0-4 on the road against Quad City all-time and 15-4-4 overall.

TODAY - Wichita finishes up a three-game road swing tonight against Quad City. This will be the third time in the last week that will pit the Thunder against the Mallards. Mario Lamoureux scored the game-winning goal on Wednesday night to give Quad City a 4-3 overtime win and alone in second place one point ahead of Wichita. The two teams will see each other two more times at the end of January. Quad City is led by Mario Lamoureux who has 34 points (12g, 22a) and Joe Perry, who has 31 (16g, 15a). Wichita is led by Ian Lowe, who has 32 points (12g, 20) and Danick Gauthier, who has 30 (14g, 16a).

WILD COMEBACK - Wichita scored three goals in a matter of 2:29 in the third period to get back into the game on Wednesday night. It was the fastest three goals scored by the Thunder this season. Ian Duval tied the game with almost four minutes remaining that finished the string of offense for the Thunder.

GAUTHIER, MILNER ALL-STARS - Yesterday, the ECHL released the roster for the 21015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic on Wednesday, January 21st that will take place in Orlando, Florida. Wichita forward Danick Gauthier was selected as a reserve while Quad City netminder Parker Milner was honored as an alternate. Milner was also called-up yesterday to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL).

SPECIAL - One key that will sure to be a factor tonight is special teams. Wichita has gone 4-for-18 (22.2%) against the Mallards this season on the power play, scoring twice on Saturday on the man advantage. Quad City scored the game-winner in overtime on the man advantage and are now 3-for-22 (13.6%). The Mallards have power play goals against Wichita in back-to-back games. Wichita's power play on the road is ranked 26th, operating at 11.6% (8-for-69) while ranking 13th on the penalty kill away from home (13 goals against on 74 times shorthanded, 82.4%). Quad City ranks 18th at home on the power play, operating at 15.2% (10-for-66) and third on the penalty kill at the I-Wireless Center (8 goals against on 63 times shorthanded, 87.3%).

SEASON LONG - Ian Lowe collected an assist on Wednesday night and extended his point-streak to nine games (5g, 7a), which is a team season-high. The forward also leads the team in points with 32 (12g, 20a). He was named captain last Saturday night before the team's game against Quad City.

THIRD PERIOD SCORING - Wichita has been strong in the third period over the last three games. The Thunder has outscored their opponents 6-0. Two of those meetings came against the Mallards, outscoring them 5-0 in the third. The Thunder has outscored their opponents 34-28 in the final frame and 34-27 in the second. Wichita has a sizable shot advantage in the second and third as well, outshooting their opponents by a wide margin (400-276 in the second, 326-280 in the third).

STREAKS - Rookie forward Ian Duval extended his streak last night with his third goal of the year and now has 16 points (3g, 13a) this season, tied for fourth-most on the team. Duval has points in his last eight games (3g, 6a) and has found the score-sheet in 11 of the last 12. Eric Meland recorded his 12th assist of the year last night and has points in his last five outings (1g, 4a).

DENIED - In Wednesday night's contest, Tim Boron stopped Justin Fox in the third period during a penalty shot attempt. It was the first penalty shot for or against this season involving Wichita.

THUNDERBOLTS… Danick Gauthier is tied for 16th in goals (14), tied for sixth in power play goals (5) and tied for 10th in power play assists (8)…Ian Lowe and Kenton Miller are tied for sixth in power play goals (5)...Tyler Bunz is eighth in the league in goals against average (2.44) while Tim Boron is in 14th place (2.57)…Tyler Bunz and Tim Boron are tied for third in shutouts (2)…Wichita is eighth in shots for per game (31.55) and third in shots against per game (26.85)…Wichita is 5-1-0-1 when leading after one...Wichita is 9-3-0-0 when tied after one…Wichita is 5-3-1-1 when tied after two periods…Wichita is 12-7-1-2 when outshooting the opponent…

QUAD CITY NOTES - Quad City broke a two-game losing streak on Wednesday night...Mario Lamoureux is tied for eighth in scoring with 34 points...Joe Perry is tied for 17th with 31 and fifth in shots on net with 115...Paxton Leroux is tied for fourth with 10 major penalties...Parker Milner is fifth in goals against average (2.39) and fourth in save percentage (.920)...Quad City is 10-3-2-2 when scoring first...Quad City is 25th in shots against per game (32.56)...

AROUND THE ECHL - There are 11 other games tonight in the ECHL. Fort Wayne plays at Greenville. Brampton travels to Elmira. Kalamazoo takes on Toledo. Orlando visits Florida. Cincinnati heads to Indy. Evansville plays at Missouri. Stockton goes to Utah. Tulsa plays at Rapid City. Alaska goes to Idaho. Colorado goes to Bakersfield.

UP NEXT - Wichita returns home for two games this weekend against Evansville, starting Saturday night.

Individual tickets are on sale now. Don't delay! Tickets can be purchased at the INTRUST Arena Box office, by calling 755-SEAT or go online at www.selectaseat.com. Stay up-to-date on all the news during the season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.

About the ECHL

The ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and one Canadian province for its 27th season in 2014-15. There have been 541 players who have started their career in the ECHL have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 29 who made their NHL debuts in the 2013-14 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 26 of the 30 NHL teams in 2013-14, marking the 17th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

-Thunder-