Shea Theodore had two goals and an assist and Alexander Delnov had three assists Tuesday night to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 6-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars at the ShoWare Center.
Defenseman Griffin Foulk had his first career WHL goal in the victory. Justin Hickman had a goal and an assist.
Seattle (19-28-3-1) take on Portland Winterhawks at 7:35 p.m. Friday at the ShoWare Center. They face the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Saturday on home ice.
The Thunderbirds jumped in front 1-0 28 seconds in to the game. Hickman worked the puck out the left corner to a wide open Luke Lockhart in the slot. Lockhart snapped the puck over Prince George goalie Mac Engel’s glove for his 15th goal of the year.
The T-Birds kept the pressure on and took a 2-0 lead at 4:30 of the first. Connor Sanvido carried the puck into the Cougars zone on the right side. Sanvido moved the puck to his left to Shea Theodore joining the rush. Theodore skated through the right circle, cut towards the goal and beat Engel with a backhand shot that hit the crossbar and dropped into the back of the net.
Theodore cashed in on the power play at 18:14 of the first to give the T-Birds a 3-0 lead. Theodore moved the puck from center ice at the blue line. Lipsbergs sent the puck to Alexander Delnov in the right circle, who quickly sent it back to Theodore. Theodore put a wrist shot on net with Lockhart screening Engel. The goalie never saw the shot and it beat him over the blocker.
Seattle outshot Prince George 17-8 in the first period.
Prince George outshot Seattle 12-4 in the second period but Seattle led 21-20 in total shots after two periods.
Connor Honey extended the T-Birds’ lead to 4-0 at 2:12 of the third period. Lipsbergs put the puck behind the Prince George net where Delnov go to it. Delnov skated out from behind the net into the right circle and wristed the puck towards Engel. The puck rebounded to Honey in the slot and he banged it past a lunging Engel for his 13th goal of the year.
Prince George (15-29-2-4) got on the board at 5:17 of the third when Chase Witala scored. Daniel Gibb had the only assist on the goal.
Foulk’s first career WHL goal was the T-Birds fifth goal of the game. Delnov got the puck to Foulk at the left point. Foulk wristed the puck on net with traffic in front of Engel and the puck found the back of the net at 13:37 of the third.
The T-Birds sealed the win at 18:51 of the third when Hickman scored. Seth Swenson banged the puck off the left boards to a streaking Hickman. He entered the zone and snapped the puck past Engel on the glove side from the left circle. Theodore had the second assist by pushing the puck up to Swenson.
Seattle outshot Prince George 17-10 in the third period and 38-30 in the game.
Seattle goalie Brandon Glover improved his record to 18-21-3-1 by stopping 29 of 30 shots.
Engel is now 6-17-2-4 after stopping 32 of 38 shots.
For T-Birds tickets, go online at the T-Birds website or visit 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, Lockhart 15 (Hickman), :28. 2, Seattle, Theodore 10 (Sanvido), 4:30. 3, Seattle, Theodore 11 (Delnov, Lipsbergs), 18:53 (pp). Penalties – Forsberg, Sea (hooking), 7:14. Mykitiuk, PG, (holding), 9:43. Honey, Sea (roughing), 9:43. Gibb, PG (holding), 18:14.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Mykitiuk, PG (tripping), 4:25. Johnson, Sea (hooking), 5:15. Kambeitz, Sea (tripping), 5:35. Pochiro, PG (roughing), 15:53. Wardley, Sea (interference), 15:53.
Third period – 4, Seattle, Honey 13 (Delnov), 2:12. 5, Prince George, Witala 9 (Gibb), 5:17. 6, Seattle, Foulk 1 (Delnov), 13:37. 7, Seattle, Hickman 11 (Swenson, Theodore), 18:51. Penalties – Hickman, Sea (double minor-high sticking), 7:17. Jacobs, PG (tripping), 7:20. Green, Sea (major-fighting), 15:39. Jacobs, PG (major-fighting0, 15:39. Wilson, PG (major-fighting), 19:09. Elliot, Sea (major-fighting), 15:39. Engel, PG (game misconduct), 19:18. Pochiro, PG (major-fighting), 19:18. Glover, Sea (game misconduct), 19:18. Hauf, Sea (major-fighting), 19:18. Johnson, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 19:18.
Shots on goal – Seattle 17-4-17 38, Prince George 8-12-10 30. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 30 shots-29 saves (18-21-3-1); Prince George, Engel 38-32 (6-17-1-4). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Prince George 0-5. A – 4,113. Referees – Ryan Benbow, Mike Campbell. Linesmen – Mark Heier, Adam Brastad.
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