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Posted on Sun, Nov. 01, 2009

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Thunder loses second straight

By Jeffrey Lutz

The Wichita Eagle

Unfortunately for the Thunder, passion cannot be orchestrated. Nor can it be forced on a fan base that grew uninspired over Wichita's weekend performance against an expansion team.

Jordan Little tried to give the Thunder some life by engaging Missouri's Carlyle Lewis in a fight just after the puck dropped Saturday at the Kansas Coliseum. Little lost the fight and Wichita's enthusiasm after that was sporadic at best as they lost to the Mavericks for the second straight night, this time 2-0. Missouri entered the weekend with an 0-5 record.

After Wichita scored the opening goal against Missouri on Friday, the Mavericks scored eight straight. The Thunder, which has been shut out at home twice this season and dropped to 2-5, had a 30-minute team meeting after Saturday's game.

"It was a group discussion," Thunder coach Brent Bilodeau said. "We just basically evaluated what's been going on and what changes have to be made and what we have to do to be better."

When Little and Lewis dropped the gloves, the crowd gained life for the first time since Wichita took an early lead Friday. That same crowd would eventually send the Thunder off the ice to a smattering of boos.

Wichita had only moments of energy and missed several chances to rally against Missouri goalkeeper Doug Groenestege, who stopped 45 of 46 Wichita shots in two games. Wichita often tried to create a spark with physical play and by starting fights, but it rarely worked.

"Sometimes that's what it takes," Bilodeau said. "Sometimes it takes a fight off the start and sometimes it takes one later in the game. It's great — the guys loved it and I thought it could get us going a little bit, too. But everyone's got to be accountable and got to be ready, and when guys go to battle you have to have their back."

Wichita's defense was stronger Saturday than Friday, but the play of Groenestege and its lack of high-percentage shots made it difficult for the Thunder to rally after Missouri took an early lead.

Chad Hinz opened the scoring by tipping in a Shaun Arvai shot during a first period that saw Missouri outshoot the Thunder 11-5. Wichita's deficit grew in the second when Hinz barely scooted a breakaway shot between the legs of Wichita goalie Scott Campbell.

Even the fans who came prepared for a festive outing by dressing up in Halloween costumes had little reason to get out of their seats. Bilodeau can only hope his team found answers during the postgame meeting.

"There's definitely concern — everyone's concerned," Bilodeau said. "The players are concerned because we know that we've got a better team than what we're dictating. We've played some very good games and we've played some laid- back games. We know we've got a good team, now we've got to go to work."

Missouri1 1 0 — 2 Thunder0 0 0 — 0

First period

Scoring—1. Missouri, Hinz (Arvai) 15:58. Penalties— Wichita, Little (fighting major) 0:03; Missouri, Lewis (fighting major) 0:03; Wichita, Detulleo (tripping) 2:30; Wichita, Thompson (hooking) 5:31; Missouri, Pallardy (hooking) 14:08; Wichita, Detulleo (hooking) 15:53; Wichita, McAllister (roughing) 18:23.

Second period

Scoring—2. Missouri, Hinz (Sirota, Davis) 8:03. Penalties— Missouri, Vandermeer (roughing) 4:20; Wichita, Surma (fighting major) 16:49; Missouri, Davis (fighting major) 16:49; Wichita, Thompson (hooking) 17:19; Missouri, Christian (elbowing) 17:51; Wichita, Detulleo (slashing) 17:51.

Third period

Penalties—Wichita, Batovanja (fighting major) 7:48; Missouri, Davis (fighting major) 7:48; Missouri, Perkins (holding) 8:32.

Power play—Missouri 0 for 5, Wichita 0 for 3.

Shots—Missouri 11-8-2-21, Wichita 5-6-9-20.

Goaltenders—Missouri, Groenestege 20 saves on 20 shots; Wichita, Campbell 19 saves on 21 shots.

A—3,007.