Thunder slays Beast, keeps chasing playoff berth

The Thunder’s playoff chase, apparently, takes all kinds.

“Some guys probably get a little uptight. You could see that tonight in a couple instances,” Thunder coach Kevin McClelland said. “Some guys don’t care. Luckily, we have a lot of guys in there that care.”

Wichita’s motivated players carried the day on Saturday at Intrust Bank Arena in a 5-1 win over Brampton that kept the Thunder’s postseason hopes alive.

Any combination of two Wichita losses or wins by Tulsa or Quad City eliminates the Thunder from playoff contention. Two of the Thunder’s three remaining games are against Tulsa next week, and Saturday’s win ensured those games will carry meaning.

Wichita has won two straight following a six-game losing streak.

“I think as a whole we’ve been a lot better, the last couple games, at being energized and ready to play,” Wichita defenseman Mike Wilson said.

Playing an equally driven Tulsa will provide a greater challenge than the one offered Saturday by Brampton, which has been settled in last place in the ECHL Central division for most of the season.

A game against an overmatched opponent can highlight traits that can help against a more difficult foe. In Wichita’s fourth victory of the season by more than three goals, the Thunder boasted an assertive mentality that allowed the team to continue the onslaught long after it appeared the outcome was decided.

The Thunder scored three goals in the third after entering the period with a 2-0 lead. Danick Gauthier scored twice in the third, both on the power play, as Wichita aggressively seized opportunities to pull away.

Wichita answered Brampton’s only goal with a late goal in the third that was finished off by Garrett Klotz, a former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick playing his 10th game for the Thunder.

“There’s a lot of good things tonight,” McClelland said. “A lot of good things, and a lot of guys showed up to play the game. We’ve just got to make sure that we get everybody on the same page here, and know what’s ahead of us. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to take some work – a little work, a little commitment, and make sure everyone grabs the rope.”

Gauthier, Wichita’s leading scorer, reached 67 points with his two power-play goals. Ian Lowe scored in the second period and had an assist, bringing his point total to 57, second on the team.

Wilson’s two assists give him 36, one behind Gauthier for the team lead. With injuries to forwards Ian Duval and Nikita Kashirsky, Wichita’s postseason aspirations probably rest on the performances of its three best players.

“We, the older guys, have to play like we can,” Wilson said. “They’ve got to be leaders for the younger guys coming down the stretch.”

Wilson, the Thunder’s most versatile defensemen, assisted on Lowe’s goal. Wilson was positioned near the right circle during a power play, patiently waited for the play to develop and found Lowe across the ice, through traffic. Lowe fired as soon as the puck reached him and scored.

Wilson had a similarly patient play in Wednesday’s win over Allen. Saturday, he helped the Thunder protect its slim early lead by chasing down Brampton shots in front of the net during power plays, shielding goaltender Grant Rollheiser, who stopped 26 shots.

“He’s just a good defenseman,” McClelland said of Wilson. “Especially, he’s good offensively. He does little things defensively that gets him by, too. He’s a guy that we count on at both ends of the ice.”

This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 10:38 PM with the headline "Thunder slays Beast, keeps chasing playoff berth."