For the Reporter
Taran Kozun made 20 saves, leading the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Spokane Chiefs in a Western Hockey League game Sunday night at Veterans Memorial Arena.
The shutout was the first of the season for Kozun, who improved to 21-13-3-3.
Seattle (23-18-3-3) took a 1-0 lead at 9:09 of the first period. Ryan Gropp carried down the right wing in to the Spokane zone. Gropp cut through the right circle and put a shot on goal. Tyson Verhelst made the save but Donovan Neuls banged in the rebound for the opening goal. Shea Theodore had the second assist.
The T-Birds took a 2-0 lead late in the third period on the power play. Roberts Lipsbergs sent the puck from the left corner to Jerret Smith at the left point. Smith made a cross-ice pass to Shea Theodore in the right circle. Theodore beat Verhelst with a wrist shot over the blocker at 16:09 of the period.
The T-Birds moved into third place in the U.S. Division standings. They are seven points behind the second-place Portland Winterhawks and 12 points behind the first-place Everett Silvertips. Spokane (23-20-3-1) has now lost six games in a row.
Seattle outshot Spokane 27-20 in the game.
Verhelst stopped 25 of 27 shots and his record is now 8-6-0-0.
On the road
The T-Birds travel to Kamloops to play the Blazers at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
They have back-to-back games in Prince George against the Cougars on Friday and Saturday. Both games in Prince George start at 7 p.m.
The next home game is Friday, Feb. 6, against the Portland Winterhawks at ShoWare Center at 7:35pm.
Game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Neuls 5 (Gropp, Theodore), 9:09. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (major-fighting), 3:30. Bechtold, Spo (major-fighting), 3:30. Osterman, Sea (major-fighting), 4:10. Laday, Spo (major-fighting), 3:10. Gropp, Sea (holding), 5:00. Wardley, Sea (high-sticking), 9:46. Helewka, Spo (high-sticking), 17:59. Olynek, Spo (roughing), 17:59. Gropp, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:59.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Gropp, Sea (slashing), 1:51. Theodore, Sea (delay of game), 3:09. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Holowko), 12:43. Helewka, Spo (major-fighting), 13:14. Eansor, Sea (major-fighting), 13:14.
Third period – 2, Seattle, Theodore 7 (Smith, Lipsbergs),16:09 (pp). Penalties – Stewart, Spo (hooking), 1:29. Cardiff, Spo (tripping), 6:37. Fram, Spo (high-sticking), 9:09. Hauf, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 11:38. McAndrews, Spo (10-minute misconduct), 11:38. Ka. Yamamoto, Spo (roughing), 15:05. Whittingham, Spo (10-minute misconduct), 20:000.
Shots on goal – Seattle 8-8-11 27, Spokane 8-6-6 20. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 20 shots-20 saves (21-13-3-3); Spokane, Verhelst 27-25 (8-6-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Spokane 0-5. A – 4,328. Referees – Jason Nissen, Nick Swaine. Linesmen – Tim Digby, Ron Dietterle.
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