Thunder stays hot with win, but playoff hopes still slim

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Feb. 15, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

It's been a month to remember for the Las Vegas Thunder.

Fourteen games.

Twelve wins.

Twenty-four points.

But even after another dramatic shootout win over the Long Beach Ice Dogs, 2-1, Sunday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas still finds itself 11 points out of the final playoff spot in the International Hockey League's Western Conference with just 29 games to go.

As well as the Thunder has played, the two teams above them in the Western Conference playoff standings -- Kansas City and Milwaukee -- have also been red hot.

Milwaukee, which defeated Kansas City, 6-1, on Sunday night, has put together an 8-1-2 streak in its last 11 games while Kansas City has gone 7-4-0 in its last 11 games. So despite its recent four-week hot streak, Las Vegas (47 points) has only been able to make up seven points on the Blades (58 points) and three points on the Admirals (60).

"Hey, we made up two points tonight," Las Vegas coach Bob Bourne said, trying to stay positive. "We were 16 or 17 points behind not too long ago. So we're making headway."

But unless the Thunder continues its torrid pace and either Kansas City or Milwaukee goes into a major swoon, the odds don't favor Las Vegas making the playoffs in what may be the team's final season here.

Still, give Bourne's squad credit. After winning just 11 games in its first 41 contests, the Thunder has rebounded to win 12 of its last 14.

Sunday night before a crowd of 4,223, the Thunder won its third straight shootout win over Long Beach and second of the weekend on defenseman Jason McBain's slapper past Ice Dogs goalie Ryan Bach on the sixth shootout attempt by Las Vegas.

The Thunder, thanks to a shorthanded goal by left winger Scott Hollis, carried a 1-0 lead into the second period when Long Beach tied it on bad-angle goal by Sean Tallaire from the right side of the net.

Long Beach was foiled on a number of excellent scoring chances in the third period by Las Vegas goalie Petr Franek, who has now won 10 of his last 11 decisions. The Thunder also had to sweat out a Long Beach power play over the final 1:21 of regulation after captain Kevin Kaminski picked up an interference penalty.

He was then ejected a few moments later for butt-ending Ice Dog right winger Claude Jutras which also earned him a game misconduct.

That means Kaminski will have to sit out Tuesday night's game against Midwest Division-leading and defending Turner Cup champion Chicago at the Thomas & Mack.

Las Vegas jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the five-shot shootout on goals by Russ Romaniuk and Hollis.

But Long Beach responded by tying the shootout on goals by Lonnie Loach on the Ice Dogs' third attempt and Jaroslav Modry on the fifth and final try, forcing a sudden-death portion.

Franek made a stick save on Darryl Williams to start the sudden death shootout. McBain then won it for the Thunder with a 20-foot slapper.