Allen, TX (Jan. 26th) - Tyler VanKleef scored four minutes into the third period to break a scoreless tie and helped Wichita to a 3-0 win past Allen on Friday night at the Allen Event Center.
Nick Latta and Kyle Platzer provided the rest of the offense while Shane Starrett stopped all 33 shots he faced to earn his first shutout as a pro.
After two scoreless periods, VanKleef scored his first ECHL goal to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. He slipped a shot from behind the net through Jeremy Brodeur at the left post. Allen turned up the pressure after the goal, outshooting the Thunder 11-4 at one point.
With two minutes left in the game, Brodeur was pulled for an extra attacker. Platzer caught a long-lead pass and found an empty net to make it 2-0. Latta increased the lead to 3-0 with a power play goal at 19:41 after Vincent Arseneau and Dalton Thrower were sent off for minor penalties. He fired a one-timer past Brodeur from the slot for his first goal in a Thunder uniform.
Starrett's shutout is the first of the season for a Thunder netminder. Mark MacMillan and Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin each had a pair of assists.
Wichita went 1-for-6 on the power play. Allen was 0-for-3 on the man advantage.
The Thunder remains in Texas for one more game tomorrow night against Allen at 7:05 p.m.
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