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Posted on Sun, Oct. 18, 2009

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Thunder open season 0-2

BY KOLLEN LONG

The Wichita Eagle

PARK CITY — Looking at the goaltending situation, it certainly seemed as if the Wichita Thunder was catching Mississippi on a good night.

In goal for the Riverkings was Ray Jean, a little-known player who has somewhat of an odd bio. Since leaving college in 2006-07, he had played in exactly two professional games — one in 2007-08 and one last season.

His record was 0-2, but he now has a career highlight, thanks to the Thunder.

While the Thunder showed more effort than on opening night, the result was another boo-producing loss — this one a 5-3 setback on Saturday in the Kansas Coliseum.

After an offseason that had most fans optimistic about a recovery for the struggling franchise, the Thunder is a surprising 0-2 for the second straight season.

"It was better than yesterday," coach Brent Bilodeau said, "but we're still not where we should be."

The Thunder trailed 2-0, but responded with three straight goals, the last by newcomer Glenn Detulleo midway through the second period. Mississippi, which reached the Northern Conference finals last season, tied the game on a power play goal off Thunder No. 2 goalie Scott Campbell.

Just 38 seconds into the third period, Mississippi took the lead for good when Ryan Held scored off a rebound seconds after the Thunder had killed a power play.

"You do a great job killing the penalty and you feel like you're going to get some momentum," Detulleo said. "They throw something at the net, it hits the shinpads and they got a guy backdoor. That's why it's never a bad play to shoot the puck. We could take a page from their book."

Adding insult to injury, Mississippi (1-1) added an insurance goal when Held stole the puck near center ice and scored an unassisted shortie.

Campbell, a rookie who played so starter Tim Boron could have the night off, made 25 saves.

"I thought he was OK," Bilodeau said. "He made some good saves. I don't think we helped him sometimes, though. We left him out to dry.

"Our D didn't play that great tonight. We have to buckle down and work on some things this week."

Notes — The Thunder's Mike Batovanja was called for a spearing major at 18:04 of the first period.... On the game's first shift, Mississippi's Cam Severson (6-2, 220) laid a big hit on the Thunder's Chris McAllister (6-7, 245). McAllister flipped over the boards and into the Thunder bench. McAllister later responded with a hit of his own that was big enough to earn glass rattler of the game honors.... Jason Duda scored a goal and is one point shy of tying Doug Lawrence for third place on the CHL career scoring charts.... Mississippi veteran Louis Dumont, who had 65 points last year, had to be helped off the ice after taking a hit in the second period.... The Thunder's Marc Belanger, who missed the opener due to illness, returned and scored.

Mississippi2 1 2 — 5 Wichita2 1 0 — 3

First period

Scoring—1. Mississippi, Chaumont 1 (Simoes, Lackner) 2:48; 2. Mississippi, Jaman 2 (Held, Marshall) 7:32; 3. Wichita, Belanger 1 (Surma, Adamek) 10:33 pp; 4. Wichita, Duda 1 (Adamek, Ofukany) 15:02 pp. Penalties— Mississippi, Severson (tripping) 7:50; Mississippi, Held (hooking) 10:01; Mississippi, Landmesser (tripping) 13:57; Wichita, Batovanja (spearing major) 18:04; Mississippi, Severson (holding) 19:27.

Second perod

Scoring—5. Wichita, Detulleo 1 (Jorgensen, Adamek) 10:13 pp; 6. Mississippi, Campbell 1 (Held, Landmesser) 19:16 pp. Penalties— Mississippi, Wight (holding) 4:41; Mississippi, Smyth (roughing) 8:44; Mississippi, Landmesser (holding) 9:41; Mississippi, Simoes (fighting) 13:26; Wichita, MacDonald (fighting) 13:26; Mississippi, Margeson (elbowing) 16:47; Mississippi, Jarman (charging) 16:47; Wichita, Hanson (roughing) 16:47; Wichita, Forslund (interference) 18:15; Wichita, McAllister (hooking) 18:31.

Third period

Scoring—7. Mississippi, Held 1 (Campbell, Makway) :38; 8. Mississippi, Held 2 (unassisted) 15:49 sh. Penalties— Mississippi, Wight (boarding) 2:43; Wichita, Jorgensen (slashing) 3:16; Wichita, McAllister (elbowing) 5:26; Mississippi, Smyth (roughing) 8:53; Mississippi, Jarman (hooking) 15:19; Wichita, bench (too many men on the ice) 16:37; Wichita, MacDonald (interference) 19:06.

Power play—Mississippi 1-8 Wichita 3-10.

Shots on goal—Mississippi 11-8-11—30, Wichita 12-8-7—27.

Goaltenders—Mississippi, Jean 24 saves on 27 shots. Wichita, Campbell 25 saves on 30 shots.

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