Third Period Dooms Wichita On Friday

CINCINNATI, OH (Feb. 24) – Wichita began a four-game road trip on Friday night, falling to Cincinnati by a 5-2 final at Heritage Bank Center.

The Thunder had a 3-2 lead heading into the third, but the Cyclones scored three times to claim the only meeting of the season between the two teams.

Michal Stinil recorded his 25th of the year while Cam Hough and Timur Ibragimov each found the back of the net 

The Cyclones took a 1-0 lead just 1:25 into the first. Josh Burnside found Matej Pekar near the front of the net and he buried it for his 11th of the year. 

Ibragimov tied it at 8:08 as he tallied his 11th of the season. He beat a defenseman to a loose puck, skated into the zone and fired a shot through Beck Warm.

Just 17 seconds later, Matt Berry gave Cincinnati a 2-1 advantage. Patrick Polino found him near the left post and he tallied his 12th of the year. 

Stinil leveled the game at 18:36 as he collected a pass near the slot from Jay Dickman and beat Warm to make it 2-2. 

In the second, Hough tallied his first in a Thunder uniform. Brett Van Os came in on a two-on-one, fed it across to Hough. He fired a one-timer at 9:18 to make it 3-2. 

Cincinnati found the net three times in the final frame to grab the win. Steven MacLean got to his own rebound at :48 seconds and tied it at three. 

At 8:27, Polino beat Eric Dop from the left circle and made it 4-3.  Zack Andrusiak extended the lead to 5-3 at 14:31 for his 20th of the year. 

Dop was lifted for the extra attacker, but the Cyclones held on for the win. 

Wichita went 0-for-3 on the power play. Cincinnati was 0-for-1 with the man advantage. 

Stinil has goals in three of his last four games. Ibragimov has points in four-straight (2g, 3a). Cole MacDonald had two helpers, giving him four points (1g, 3a) in his last three games. 

The Thunder continues their road trip tomorrow night with their first meeting of the year at 6:15 p.m. CST against Toledo.

Our Nickelodeon PAW Patrol Jerseys are now live on the DASH Auction app, presented by J.P. Weigand & Sons Auction Division. Click HERE to bid today!

Star Wars Night is coming soon. Join us on Friday, March 3 as we try to take down the evil Sith Lord, Utah Grizzlies. Come meet characters from the 501st Legion on the concourse.

The team will be wearing a special Mandalorian-themed uniform that will be auctioned off live after the game. A portion of the proceeds from the auction benefits the Wichita Youth Hockey Association.

Get four goal-zone tickets and two lightsabers for just $60. Use the code STAR when you check out HERE.

Sunday, March 5 is another Sunday Funday, presented by Boulevard Theatres. Everyone in attendance gets a complimentary movie ticket. Season ticket holders can stay afterwards and skate with the team. Buy tickets HERE.

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.

Several outstanding promotions remain on our schedule for the season. Click HERE to learn more.