Thunder offense stalls in 7-2 loss to Missouri

The Thunder’s rivalry with Missouri is getting worse for Wichita before it gets better, and it may not get better.

After losing three close games to Missouri, the Thunder was finally overmatched by the ECHL team with the second-most points and second-best points percentage. Wichita reached a virtually insurmountable deficit by the end of the first period and lost 7-2 at Intrust Bank Arena.

None of the previous three games between Missouri and Wichita included more than three total goals and all were decided by a single score. Both of those propositions were essentially eliminated when Missouri took a 5-1 lead into the first intermission.

“We can play with them,” Thunder defenseman Theo Peckham said. “It’s just that tonight, we didn’t have it and it showed in the first. We were sleeping, and they capitalized.”

Wichita may have been worn down by playing six games over the previous eight days, but the Thunder clearly became emotionally spent as Missouri began its first-period runaway.

That fatigue combination destroyed the Thunder, leading to numerous defensive breakdowns, turnovers and careless play with the puck. Wichita survived a slow start on Wednesday against last-place Tulsa but Missouri quickly seized upon the Thunder’s lackadaisical beginning.

“We’re professional hockey players,” Peckham said. “It doesn’t matter if you play seven in seven nights, you’ve got to come out ready to go. This isn’t Sunday fun-day league. We’re playing for keeps. Tonight, obviously, we weren’t there, and if you spot a team like Missouri four goals you’re never going to win.”

Missouri outshot the Thunder 38-20 and Wichita’s chances were mostly leftovers than the result of aggressiveness. The Thunder has gotten virtually nothing from its top line of Ian Lowe, Danick Gauthier and Kenton Miller, a group that has blended poorly with little cohesion.

Those three didn’t damage the Thunder much on Friday, with a combined minus-1 rating, but with a combined five goals and four assists, their turnaround could lead a similar switch for the team.

“I don’t know what the leaders are doing,” Thunder coach Kevin McClelland said. “I question the leadership right now and the character on our team from guys who have been in the league. There’s a lot of guys who haven’t done a lot during the first 13 games.

The Thunder went 0 for 4 on the power play, dropping its league-worst percentage below 4 while allowing two power-play goals.

“No one’s clicking,” McClelland said. “We’re trying to put different guys with different guys and it’s just not working out. It’s our young guys that are winning us games. The other guys are tugging on the rope here, but it’s not happening.”

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 10:50 PM with the headline "Thunder offense stalls in 7-2 loss to Missouri."