Thunder still seeks offense

A seven-game losing streak that was snapped Friday night in Tulsa may have been rock bottom for the Thunder, but coach Kevin McClelland hasn’t allowed his emotions to reach that point.

Often outspoken about the team’s shortcomings following games, McClelland presents a more balanced outlook between them. The Thunder’s scoring difficulties can’t be overlooked, but Wichita isn’t resigned to defeat while trying to make do with what it has.

“It has to be positive, it has to be positive,” McClelland said of his mindset. “No one is happy with where we are in the standings or what our record is this year, but we’ve got to try to push through this as a group and as an organization and move forward.”

Through 25 games, Wichita (7-17-0-1) has 15 points and the lowest points percentage in the ECHL. There were plenty of signs of trouble before a road trip that covered nearly three weeks, but losing the first five to push the losing streak to seven exploited nearly all of them.

Despite some reinforcements in Dean Chelios and Landon Oslanski, acquired this month in a trade with Alaska, the Thunder was outscored 21-7 in the first five of seven straight games on the road.

Two of those losses were by one goal, highlighting the Thunder’s meager scoring efforts throughout the year. Wichita hasn’t topped two regulation goals since Nov. 25 and has done so four times this season – three times in the first two weeks.

Nine players have between four and six goals, but nobody has more than six. The Thunder isn’t represented within the league’s top 143 scorers, with Andrew Huff and Peter Sakaris among many tied for No. 144.

Several Thunder players are enduring their worst professional seasons, a fact that doesn’t baffle McClelland less as the season progresses.

“It’s more of a surprise,” McClelland said. “You give them time to get out of the funk, but it’s not happening. We’re getting close to the 30-game plateau. Some guys have scored on this road trip that hadn’t scored before, so hopefully they can continue that.”

McClelland is often torn between going into desperation mode and forcing major roster upheavals, and standing pat and allowing well-tenured players time to improve. He’s in the final year of his contract with a record that doesn’t equate with a likely renewal.

“If guys aren’t doing it, you’ve got to bring in other guys to get a chance,” McClelland said. “It’s a process and things aren’t working here. Whatever happens next year, whether I’m here or a new guy is here, you’ve got to do what’s best for the organization and I’m all about that.

“My future, it’s going to be what it’s going to be. There are a lot of reason that coaches are let go. We’ve had such a great time here in Wichita that I want to make sure what the future of the franchise is, whether I’m here or not.”

Saturday’s game — The Tulsa Oilers beat the Thunder in a shootout in Tulsa, 3-2. Tulsa’s Phil Brewer beat Thunder keeper Grant Rollheiser for the only goal in the shootout.

Kenton Miller tied the score with a wrist shot at 18:16 of the third period. Dean Chelios gave Wichita a 1-0 lead at 16:48 of the first, but Tulsa tied the score 54 seconds late. The Oilers took a 2-1 lead at 3:47 of the third period.

Logan Nelson had assists on both Thunder goals.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 9:50 PM with the headline "Thunder still seeks offense."