Hitmen rally past Thunderbirds | WHL

The Calgary Hitmen came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period and scored the winning goal with four seconds left in the game to beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.

Calgary’s Carsen Twarynski stole the puck behind the Seattle net and centered it to Jackson Houck in the left circle. Houck snapped the puck over Seattle goalie Taz Burman’s glove with four seconds left in the game for the winning goal.

Mathew Barzal had two assists in the game to give him a goal and eight assists in the last three games. Barzal has four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 10 games this season.

Keegan Kolesar had two assists in the game to give him four goals and three assists in the last three games. Kolesar has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 13 games this season.

The T-Birds road trip through the Central Division continues Tuesday against the Red Deer Rebels at 6 p.m. They then take on the Edmonton Oil Kings at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Seattle (9-3-1-0) took a 1-0 lead at 17:45 of the first period. Barzal entered the Calgary zone on the right side on a two-on-one break with Nolan Volcan. Barzal crossed the puck to Volcan in the slot. Volcan beat Calgary goalie Cody Porter over the blocker for his fifth goal of the season. Kolesar had the second assist.

The T-Birds went in front 2-0 at 7:37 of the second period on the power play. Jerret Smith sent the puck from the right point to Volcan on the goal line. Volcan held the puck then sent it to Donovan Neuls along the right board. Neuls skated into the right circle and snapped the puck over Porter’s glove for his first goal of the season.

Calgary (8-7-0-1) cut the lead to one at 9:54 of the second. Travis Sanheim knocked a rebound from a Dawson Martin shot past Seattle goalie Taz Burman. Houck had the second assist.

The T-Birds took the two-goal lead back at 13:45 of the second on the first goal of the season from Brandon Schuldhaus. The T-Birds broke up ice form their zone as Schuldhaus came out of the penalty box. Barzal passed the puck to Kolesar coming into the Calgary zone. Kolesar sent it back to Schuldhaus in the right circle and he one-timed the puck past Porter.

Seattle outshot Calgary 11-7 in the second period and led 20-13 in total shots after two periods.

The Hitmen cut the lead to one goal for a second time in the game 3:49 into the period. Radel Fazleev got a loose puck in the slot and beat Burman over the glove.

Calgary tied the game 3-3 at 14:17 of the third. Mark Kastelic attempted a centering pass from behind the Seattle net. The pass hit a T-Birds’ defenseman’s stick and slid under Burman for the tying goal. Micheal Zipp and Jordy Stallard had the assists.

Calgary outshot Seattle 10-1 in the third period and 23-21 in the game.

Burman finished with 19 saves on 23 shots and his record is now 4-2-1-0.

Porter made 18 saves on 21 shots and his record is now 1-1-0-0.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Volcan 5 (Barzal, Kolesar), 17:45. Penalties – Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Elder), 5:45.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Neuls 1 (Volcan, Smith), 7:37 (pp). 3, Calgary, Tr. Sanheim 6 (Martin, Houck), 9:45. 4, Seattle, Schuldhaus 1 (Kolesar, Barzal), 13:45. Penalties – Zipp, Cal (cross checking), 5:59. Schuldhaus, Sea (cross checking), 11:37. Tyszka, Sea (delay of game), 14:29. LaPointe, Cal (tripping), 17:07.

Third period – 5, Calgary, Fazleev 8, 3:49. 6, Calgary, Kastelic 1 (Zipp, Stallard), 14:17. 7, Calgary, Houck 6 (Twarynski), 19:56. Penalties – Twarynski, Cal (high-sticking), 7:07. Bear, Sea (holding), 8:20.

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-11-1 21, Calgary 6-7-10 23. Goalies – Seattle, Burman 23 shots-19 saves (4-2-1-0); Calgary, Porter 21-18 (1-1-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Calgary 0-4. A – 6,398. Referees – Kyle Kowalski, Reagan Vetter. Linesmen – Blake Copeland, Tyler Jensen.