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Wednesday, December 31st

Ball Drops on Thunder in OT Loss to Grizzlies

Ball Drops on Thunder in OT Loss to Grizzlies

WICHITA, Kan. (Dec. 31) – Maxim Barbashev scored two goals, including the overtime winner to push Utah past Wichita, 4-3, on New Year's Eve at INTRUST Bank Arena. 

Jack Bar led the way for the Thunder with two points. Roddy Ross suffered the loss, stopping a season-high 46 shots. 

Wichita got on the board first with less than two minutes to go in the opening frame. Nick Nardecchia skated down the left wing, fell to a knee, got back to his feet and fired a sharp angle shot past Kyle Keyser to make it 1-0. 

Bar extended the lead midway through the second period. He carried the puck up the ice, came in over the offensive blueline and fired a shot through a screen from the high slot that beat Keyser.

The Grizzlies got on the board with one minute left in the frame. Reilly Connors was left all alone in front of the net and beat Ross for his third of the year to make it 2-1.

Early in the third, Lucas Vanroboys connected for his fifth of the season to make it 3-1. Kirby Proctor found him near the blue paint and he beat Keyser.

Just 29 seconds later, Barbashev stole a loose puck near the left circle and beat Ross for his second of the year to make it 3-2.

Utah pulled Keyser with two minutes left for the extra attacker. Wichita had several chances to ice the game, but missed the empty net.

At 19:31, Reed Lebster tied the game and forced overtime. Evan Friesen created a turnover in the high slot, curled near the left circle and found a wide-open Lebster for a tap-in goal to make it 3-3.

In the extra session, both teams had some quality scoring opportunities. Barbashev scored at 6:28, beating Ross through the five-hole in the low slot to make it 4-3. 

Wichita falls to 17-10-5 all-time on New Year's Eve. Nardecchia has points in his last two outings. Bar collected his second two-point game of the year. Donavan Houle added an assist, giving him three points in his last two games. Jay Dickman collected a helper, putting him just one assist shy of 200 for his ECHL career. 

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

The Thunder remains at home on Friday night to kick off the 2026 portion of the schedule against Utah. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m.

Season tickets are still on sale for the 2025-26 season. Lock in your seats and catch all the high paced, hard-hitting action at INTRUST Bank Arena. Click HERE now to learn how you can get your seats reserved and start paying now.

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