Rapid City Claims High-Scoring Contest Over Wichita

Wichita, KS (Feb. 15th) - In a high-scoring affair on Wednesday night, Wichita couldn't overcome a slow start in the third period and lost to Rapid City by the final of 7-5 at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Blake Tatchell, Macoy Erkamps and Alexis Vanier each finished with multi-point outings in the losing effort.

It didn't take long for Rapid City to get on the board as Terrence Wallin beat Scott Greenham just 44 seconds into the game and a 1-0 lead. Wichita answered 11 minutes later when newcomer Maxime St-Cyr tipped home a rebound at the right post and tied the game at one.

The two teams combined for six goals and 24 shots in the second. Ryan Misiak scored his first of three at 6:09 to re-gain the lead for the visitors. Tatchell tied the game with a highlight reel goal at the nine-minute mark. He skated up the left wall, curled to the middle and toe-dragged around a defenseman to put it top-shelf past Austin Lotz. Rapid City scored the next two and took a 4-2 advantage. The first came from Mark Cooper at 14:02 to make it 3-2. Ryan Walters scored just over a minute later as he stripped the puck from a Thunder defenseman behind the net and beat Greenham with a shorthanded marker at 15:13. Wichita received a two-man advantage shortly after and pulled even with two power play goals. David Friedmann put home a rebound at 15:59 and Vanier blasted one through traffic to make it a 4-4 contest.

In the third, the Rush outshot the Thunder 12-0 at one point and took a 5-4 lead with a goal from Alex Mikulovich at 5:58. Misiak recorded his second of the game at 12:39 to make it 6-4. Erkamps tallied his third of the season at 18:32 to cut the lead to 6-5. Wichita pulled Greenham and almost tied the game as Zach O'Brien had a chance near the crease, but was stopped by Lotz. Misiak found an empty-net at 19:03 and silenced a Thunder comeback bid.

Lowe collected an assist and is just two shy of tying Mark Karpen for fifth place all-time with 201 points in a Thunder uniform. Tatchell led the Thunder with three points (1g, 2a) while Erkamps and Vanier each had a goal and an assist. Greenham suffered the loss, stopping 30 of 36 shots. Lotz earns his first win in a Rush uniform, stopping 23 of 28 shots he faced.

Wichita went 2-for-6 on the power play. Rapid City was 0-for-5 on the man advantage.

The Thunder finishes the home stand with a pair of games on Friday and Saturday night against the Toledo Walleye at 7:05 p.m.

Individual tickets for all Thunder home games are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the INTRUST Arena Box office, by calling 855-755-SEAT or go online at www.selectaseat.com.

Contact a Thunder representative at the office today to learn more about our great season, group and other ticket package opportunities!

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