WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 16) – Ryan Finnegan scored midway through the third period, helping Wichita climb back to a 3-2 win on Friday night over Tahoe at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of 11,554 in attendance. 

Kyle Crnkovic and Matt Crasa also found the net for the Thunder. Roddy Ross claims the win, stopping 31 shots. 

Jake Durflinger got things started just 5:35 into the opening period. He skated behind the net, threw a backhand into the slot and it somehow got past Ross for his fourth of the season.

Just 31 seconds later, Crnkovic leveled the game with his 17th of the year. Kirby Proctor intercepted a pass from Kaelan Taylor in the slot, fed it over to the left wing and Crnkovic sniped it past Jordan Papirny. 

In the second, Wichita out chanced the visitors from Stateline, Nevada. Papirny made several highlight-reel saves to keep the game locked up at one. He made a nice blocker save on Finnegan and then robbed Crasa with a defenseman in his crease. 

Casey Bailey made it 2-1 at 15:43. Wichita failed to clear the puck out from its own zone. Bailey was the recipient of a great pass from Taylor at the backdoor and collected his 16th tally of the year.

In the third, the Thunder mounted a comeback to take their first lead of the evening. At 7:04, Spencer Blackwell made a wonderful play to get the puck to Crasa. He beat a defender into the corner, sent a no-look backhand through his legs to Crasa in the left circle and he buried it to tie the contest. 

Finnegan recorded the go-ahead marker at 10:05. He made a nice play in the defensive zone, started the rush up the ice to Jeffers. As he got to the puck, Jeffers switched it to his forehand, fed Finnegan at the top of the crease and he beat Papirny for his fifth of the year. 

Tahoe finished with 14 shots in the final frame. Papirny was lifted with just over two minutes left for the extra attacker. Ross shut the door and the Thunder held on for the win. 

Wichita snaps its four-game winless skid and ties the season-series at two against Tahoe. Tonight's crowd was the 10th largest in franchise history.

Crnkovic has goals in two of his last three outings. Finnegan has points in three-straight and recorded his second game-winner of the season. Crasa has goals in back-to-back games and three points over that stretch. Proctor has points in his last three contests. Kneen has five helpers in his last three and appeared in his 300th game of his pro career. Jeffers has four points in his last three games. 

Wichita went 0-for-2 on the power play. Tahoe went 0-for-3 on the man advantage. 

The Thunder remains at home tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. to host Tahoe.

Join us for Puck Cancer Night tomorrow night against the Knight Monsters. The Thunder encourages fans to wear purple as we honor those who are battling or have defeated this terrible disease. Fans can also participate in the first intermission cancer parade. Buy Tickets by clicking HERE.

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