The Thunder came up with a big come-from-behind win over Rapid City Thursday night.
Joe Carroll tallied the tying goal with 1:29 left in regulation and Michal Stinil scored the only goal in the shootout, leading Wichita to a 3-2 road win over the Rapid City Rush Thursday night at The Monument.
It was the first of a five-game road trip for the Thunder and the fourth win in four meetings between the two clubs this season.
Ryan Wagner started the scoring for the Rush late in the first period. Following a Wichita turnover at the offensive blueline, Wagner raced back the other way to beat goalie Gabriel Carriere through the five-hole for his seventh goal of the season and a 1-0 Rapid City lead.
The Rush added to their lead at 9:33 of the middle frame when Simon Boyko went around the net, avoided traffic near the left post and tucked a shot through Carriere.
That would prove to be all the scoring for Rapid City on the night. Nolan Kneen cut the Wichita deficit to 2-1 at the 17:21 mark. After the Thunder got pressure in the Rapid City zone, Kneen rifled a seeing-eye shot from the right point to beat Connor Murphy for his second tally of the year.
Carroll scored the game-tying goal after the Thunder broke out from behind their own net and fed the puck through the middle of the ice. Nolan Burke set up Carroll, who sped down the left wing and beat Murphy from the left faceoff dot for his eighth of the season.
Both teams failed to capitalize in overtime for the second time in the four meetings this season. Peter Bates nearly ended the game in overtime but failed to convert after finding himself all alone in front of the net.
Stinil scored the game-winner at the bottom of round 2 in the shootout to preserve the 3-2 victory for Wichita, besting Murphy with a backhander.
Carriere stopped all three Rush shooters to pick up his fifth win in net, saving 28 shots. Murphy saved 27 of 29 shots during regulation and overtime, plus one out of two in the shootout to take the loss. It was his third shootout loss of the season.
The Thunder failed to convert on all three of their power-play chances, while Rapid City went 0-for-2 on the man advantage.
Wichita moves to 12-10-1, while the Rush drops to 5-12-5. The two teams meet up again Friday night in Rapid City, with puck drop set for 7:05 Pm Mt.