For the Reporter
Lane Pederson had two goals Thursday night to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-2 win over the defending WHL and Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings at the ShoWare Center.
The goals were Pederson’s first two of the season.
Seattle goalie Taran Kozun had 18 saves on 20 shots to improve his record 6-3-2-1.
Seattle (6-5-2-1) opened the scoring courtesy of a nice two-on-one goal from Mathew Barzal.
Barzal collected the puck just inside the Seattle blue line along the boards. Barzal broke up ice with Justin Hickman on his right. At the top of the left circle Barzal made a saucer pass to Hickman. Hickman sent the puck right back to Barzal. Edmonton goalie Patrick Dea lunged across the crease to try and make the save but Barzal snapped the puck over the goalie’s glove for his seventh goal of the season.
The T-Birds struck for a second time on a two-on-break at 17:22 of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
Scott Eansor got past a defenseman at the Edmonton blue line on the right wing to create a two-on-one with Lane Pederson. From the right circle Eansor crossed the puck to Pederson in the slot. Pederson beat Dea through is legs. It was Pederson’s first career goal.
Seattle outshot Edmonton 7-6 in the first period.
Alexander True put the T-Birds in front 3-0 at 8:30 of the second period. Keegan Kolesar slapped a rolling puck from right point on net. The puck came off Dea and right to True alone in the slot. True beat Dea with a wrist shot over the glove for his third goal of the season.
Pederson scored his second goal of the night at 11:16 of the second to give the T-Birds a 4-0 lead. Eansor forced a turnover in the left circle of the Edmonton zone that went to Pederson in the slot. Pederson spun and beat Dea with a wrist shot over the blocker.
Edmonton (9-4-0-2) got on the board at 13:29 of the second. Lane Bauer took a shot from the left point. Brett Pollock tipped the shot past Kozun for the goal. Jesse Mills had the second assist.
Seattle came right back and scored at 14:18 of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Barzal had the puck in the left corner. He moved the puck to Ryan Gropp at the top of the left circle. Gropp took a wrist shot that beat Dean under the arm for his seventh goal of the season.
Barzal and Gropp are tied for the team lead in goals with seven each.
The T-Birds led 19-15 in shots after two periods by outshooting the Oil Kings 12-9 in the second period.
The Oil Kings scored a second goal at 9:15 of the third period. Aaron Irving took a shot from the high slot that deflected to Ashton Sautner in the left circle. Sautner shot the puck on goal as Kozun slid across to try and make the save. The shot beat Kozun through the legs.
Both teams had five shots on goal in the third period and the T-Birds finished with a 24-20 advantage in shots.
Dea made 19 saves on 24 shots and his record is now 2-1-0-0.
Giants next
The T-Birds host the Vancouver Giants at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. They then play the Red Deer Rebels at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday in the second Directors Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday of the season.
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.
Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Barzal 7 (Hickman), 12:52. 2, Seattle, Pederson 1 (Eansor, Neuls), 17:22. Penalties – Kulda, Edm (high-sticking), :47. Orban, Edm (cross checking), 1:39. Orban, Edm (roughing), 17:22.
Second period – 3, Seattle, True 3 (Kolesar), 8:30. 4, Seattle, Pederson 2 (Eansor), 11:16. 5, Edmonton, Pollock 6 (Bauer, Mills), 13:29. 6, Seattle, Gropp 7 (Barzal), 14:18. Penalties – Pollock, Edm (slashing), 16:54.
Third period – 7, Edmonton, Sautner 3 (Irving), 9:15. Penalties – Bear, Sea (delay of game), 4:41. Mayo, Edm (cross checking), 18:07.
Shots on goal – Seattle 7-12-5 24, Edmonton 6-9-5 20. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 20 shots-18 saves (6-3-2-1); Edmonton, Dea 24-19 (2-1-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-5; Edmonton 0-1. A – 5,045. Referees – Mike Campbell, Nick Swaine. Linesmen – Al Creigh, Aaron Mills.
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