Thunder Rally Past Oilers On Friday, 5-3

WICHITA, Kan. (Oct. 28) – Wichita erased an early hole on Friday night, coming back to win 5-3 against Tulsa at INTRUST Bank Arena. 

Dillon Hamaliuk led the way with three points and Stefan Fournier tallied the game-winner for his second marker of the season. Making his Thunder debut, Strauss Mann stopped 49 shots and claimed his first ECHL win. 

The Oilers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. Eddie Matsushima tipped home a shot from Karl Boudrias near the front of the net to make it 1-0. Just 53 seconds later, Alex Gilmour beat Mann to increase the deficit to 2-0. 

Early in the second, Brayden Watts fired a one-timer from the right circle and cut the lead to 2-1. Tulsa answered at 3:26 as Jack Doremus scored his first of the year to make it 3-1. 

Wichita rattled off four unanswered to take the victory. Timur Ibragimov picked off a pass in the slot at 9:30 and beat Daniel Mannella for his first of the year. At 15:07, Hamaliuk wired a shot from the left circle, beating Mannella short-side and tied it at three. 

Fournier put the Thunder on top for good at 11:02 of the third. He tipped in a shot from Bray Crowder to make it 4-3.

With seven minutes remaining, Tulsa was awarded a five-minute power play as Zack Hoffman caught Tyler Poulsen across the middle. Mann was terrific, stopping several chances by the Oilers. 

Hamaliuk netted his second of the night at 17:53 as he cut down the slot and fired home a shot to make it 5-3. 

Wichita went 2-for-7 on the power play while holding Tulsa off the scoresheet on three chances on the man advantage. 

Hamaliuk finished with two goals and an assist. Watts has a goal and an assist in back-to-back games. Kirwin added his third assist of the season.

The Thunder heads to Texas for the next two, starting tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. against the Allen Americans. 

Single game tickets are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets online here, at the Select-A-Seat Box Office at INTRUST Bank Arena or by calling the Thunder office at 316-264-4625.

Season tickets for the 2022-23 campaign are still on sale. Fans can pay in full and receive 10% off. Lock in your seats for every game and enjoy all the benefits. Click here to learn more.