Shantz helps Thunder stop division-leading Mavericks
With many players spending time in the penalty box Saturday night, the Thunder managed to find a way to kill most of the penalties for a 4-2 triumph over division-leading Missouri at Intrust Bank Arena.
The victory, Wichita’s second in as many games, was largely built on another stellar performance in goal by David Shantz.
Shantz stopped 40 of 42 shots three days after stopping 36 of 37 against Alaska.
Meanwhile, the team got Shantz some early support, scoring twice in the game’s first 2:32. But the ride became a wild one when the Thunder was assessed 15 penalties in the game for 33 minutes. The infractions gave Missouri 12 power-play chances, but the Thunder was equal to the task, surrendering scores on two.
Shantz said his teammates helped him fight through the penalties.
“We did a great job of killing penalties and just making the night easy,” he said. “A full-out team win (Saturday), for sure.”
Of course, he had plenty of help. Many Thunder players were stopping shots before they got near to the goal.
“We got lots of practice (Saturday) on the (penalty-killing),” Shantz said. “I was just proud of our guys. They don’t let it bother them; they kept working. Even when (Missouri) got that power-play goal in the third, they kept working and it was really encouraging to see.”
Wichita got off to a fast start when Paxton Leroux scored on a deflection, then Ian Lowe found the net 29 seconds later on the Mavericks’ Josh Robinson, who carried a 1.85 goals-against average into the game.
Shantz, lowered his average to 3.07 and was in control despite being constantly tested.
“Anytime you get a lead on them, you’ve just got to work to maintain it,” Shantz said. “It’s really nice to get a couple of breaks early.”
The Thunder made Missouri pay for pulling Robinson for an extra attacker, with Andy Huff scoring an empty-net goal at 17:45.
“There were a lot of blocks before we got that fourth goal,” Shantz said. “Those guys, they were the stars of the game for sure. Any insurance marker you can get is certainly encouraging.”
The Thunder and Mavericks will go at it again at 5 p.m. Sunday at Intrust Bank Arena.
Missouri | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
Wichita | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
First period
Scoring – 1. Wichita, Leroux (Oslanski, Alberga), 2:03. 2. Wichita, Lowe (Milan), 2:32. Penalties –Wichita, Leroux, (fighting major), 7:39; Missouri, Dziurzynski (fighting major), 7:39. Wichita, Lowe (holding), 9:13; Wichita, Chelios (tripping), 14:02.
Second period
Scoring – 3. Missouri, Dziurzynski (Ludwig), (pp), 15:06. 4. Wichita, Isacksen (Koules, Huff), (pp), 17:52. Penalties – Wichita, Koules (boarding), 1:54; Wichita, Milan (hooking), 5:58. Missouri, Sylvestre (roughing),10:11; Wichita, Alberga (roughing), 10:11; Wichita, Miller (high-sticking), 12:39; Missouri, Aneloski (interference), 17:27; Missouri, Owens (tripping), 18:55; Wichita, Alberga (unsportsmanlike), 18:55; Wichita, Nelson, (roughing), 19:53.
Third period
Scoring – 5. Missouri, Aneloski (Carzo, Barnes) (pp), 5:05. 6. Wichita, Huff (Neal) (empty net), 16:37. Penalties – Wichita, Reum (tripping), 0:13. Wichita, Nelson (tripping), 2:20; Wichita, Nemcik (interference, high-sticking 4-minute), 4:34; Wichita, Alberga (roughing), Missouri, Holmstrom (roughing), 16:37; Wichita, Harris (holding), 18:38; Wichita, game misconduct-coach, 20:00.
Power play – Missouri 2 for 12; Wichita 1 for 2. Shots – Missouri, 9-11-22—42; Wichita, 12-13-4—29. Saves – Missouri, Robinson 25 on 29 shots; Wichita, Shantz, 40 on 42 shots. T – 2:30. A – 5,706.
Missouri at Thunder
- When: 5 p.m. Sunday
- Where: Intrust Bank Arena
- Records: Missouri 47-10-3-2, Wichita 16-36-6-6
- Broadcast: wichitathunder.com
This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Shantz helps Thunder stop division-leading Mavericks."