BOISE, ID (Feb. 25) – Nick Nardecchia scored a shorthanded marker with 5:20 left in regulation and Wichita came back for a 3-2 win over Idaho on Wednesday night at Idaho Central Arena. 

Down 2-0, the Thunder recorded three-unanswered tallies to help Matt Davis claim his eighth win of the campaign.

Mitch Wahl opened the scoring at 15:26 of the first period. Jeff Baum made a nice play down the right wing, fed a backhand across the slot and Wahl one-timed it past Davis. 

Early in the second, Nick Portz increased the lead to 2-0. The Thunder turned the puck over in the right corner. Francesco Arcuri fired a shot from the line and Portz redirected it past Davis for his eighth of the year. 

Kirby Proctor began the comeback at 16:14. Jake Wahlin and Ryan Finnegan did a nice job on the forecheck and created a turnover. Proctor intercepted a clearing attempt and fired a shot past Ben Kraws to make it 2-1. 

Just 44 seconds into the third, Jay Dickman tied the game with his 14th of the season. Michal Stinil stole the puck inside the Wichita zone and started an odd-man rush the other way. Dickman and Stinil played catch that led to a one-timer from Dickman in the slot and he beat Kraws to make it 2-2. 

Declan Smith was assessed a slashing penalty at 14:03, giving Idaho its first chance on the power play. Davis fired the puck from behind the Thunder net up the right wing that got through an Idaho defenseman. Nardecchia raced ahead the other way, came in on a breakaway and slipped a shot through the five-hole of Kraws for his fourth of the season to make it 3-2.

Just seconds later, Idaho appeared to tie the game at three on the power play. Charlie Dodero let a shot go from the high slot. Dickman tipped the puck in the air, which flew to the right post. Robbie Holmes slid it through Davis, and the game seemed to be tied at three. The officials huddled and determined that Holmes played the puck with his hand to Kaleb Pearson, and the goal was overturned. 

Wichita killed off a short two-man advantage after Noah Beck was whistled for hooking at 15:57. The Thunder kept the Steelheads at bay on the rest of the man advantage. 

Idaho pulled Kraws with 1:41 left in regulation, but Wichita held on for the victory. 

The Thunder snaps a three-game winless skid and earned its fourth victory when trailing by two or more. 

Dickman has goals in two of his last three contests. Proctor netted his eighth goal of the year. Nardecchia recorded his first game-winner and shorthanded goal of his pro career. Davis made 30 saves and picked his first pro point. 

Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.

Wichita stays in Boise and will play Idaho for the final time this season on Saturday night. Faceoff is set for 8:10 p.m. CST.

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