WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita Thunder begins a two-game set against the Rapid City Rush tonight. The games have the potential to bring Wichita to within four points of a playoff spot.
The Specifics:
WHO: Rapid City Rush (25-17-4-0) at Wichita Thunder (19-24-8-0)
WHEN: Pregame show at 6:30 pm CT, face-off is 7:05 PM CT
WHERE: INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, Kansas
HOW TO LISTEN/WATCH: Download The Sin Bin app (Google Play & Apple app stores) and ECHL.TV
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: @SinBinThunder on Twitter
REFEREE: Brett Roeland (#10)
LINESMEN: Brady Fagan (#89) and Christopher Williams (#62)
Possible Scratches
- Jordan Sims – WIC – IR
- Ostap Safin – WIC – Currently on reserve
- Zachary Borsoi – WIC – Currently on reserve
- Matt Ustaski – RC – Currently on reserve
- Alex Sakellaropoulos – RC – Currently on reserve
Additional scratches due to lineup changes or injury will be announced closer to game time.
Series-in-Review
- Rapid City leads the season series with a 5-3-0-0 record
- In the last five seasons, Rapid City has only one win inside INTRUST Bank Arena (1-10-0-1)
- Rapid City has outscored Wichita 33-25 this season, averaging over four goals a game.
- Keeghan Howdeshell has a team-leading 12 points (2g, 10a) in Rapid City’s eight games against the Thunder this year.
Home Ice Advantage
Wichita’s home-ice advantage can be looked at in a number of ways. Against Allen, it is anything BUT an advantage. But against Rapid City, the boys in blue always find a way to get it done.
One of the biggest weekends last season was at the beginning of December when Wichita won all three games in a three-game weekend set against Rapid City. One that featured Stuart Skinner‘s first professional shutout.
The Thunder are 14-8-3-0 at home this season while just 5-16-5-0 on the road. Wichita is also three for five in home overtime games this season.
Stayin’ Alive
Wichita is still a very capable playoff team, even if the 1-8-1-0 last 10 games have them on a downward slope. The two games with Rapid City this weekend have the potential for Wichita to jump rivals Tulsa in the standings.
As the opening weekend of April comes closer and closer, games begin to mean more and more in the Mountain division, especially when playing games against the teams near you in the standings. Wichita’s next five games are against teams within eight points of them in the standings.
Penalty Thrill?
Wichita has allowed a powerplay goal in eight straight games. On top of that, the Thunder have failed to score on the powerplay in their last two games, a recipe for disaster. On the bright side, Wichita only took two penalties last night for just the second time in 14 games.
Matthew Harding and I will have the Sin Bin pregame show for you tonight at 6:30pm on the Sin Bin app and ECHL.tv to break down everything you need to know for tonight’s matchup.
