For the Reporter
The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Kamloops Blazers 3-1 in a Western Hockey League game Saturday night in the ShoWare Center after taking the lead with just four minutes left to play.
Seattle improves to 33-24-4-5 this season, good for third in the U.S. Division. Kamloops falls to 25-34-4-3.
Taran Kozun made 39 saves on 40 shots to clinch the victory for the T-Birds in his 56th appearance of the season. Kozun is now 30-18-4-4 this season. Connor Ingram took the loss after stopping 29 of 31 shots. He is now 18-18-2-3.
A tipped shot from Seattle’s Ethan Bear resulted in the game’s first goal. Cory Millette, perched in front of the crease, got his stick on Bear’s shot and redirected it into the corner of the net as Ingram fought to get an eye on the puck. It was Millette’s 21st goal of the season and made the game 1-0 in Seattle’s favor. Mathew Barzal had the secondary assist on the goal.
After shutting down a Kamloops power play, Kozun again shined. The Blazers got a shot off that rebounded straight to one of their forwards cutting across the crease. Kozun managed to track the puck from a sitting position and cover it up with a combination of his leg and glove.
Matt Needham tied the game at 17:16. Needham was waiting at the side of the net for a centering pass that came right on time from Matt Revel for the goal. Cole Ully had the other assist.
Shots in the second period were 22-9 Kamloops and faceoffs were 12-9, also in favor of Kamloops.
Jared Hauf’s point shot through heavy traffic made it 2-1 Seattle at 15:36 of the third period. The assists went to Evan Wardley and Ryan Gropp. Ingram couldn’t get a bead on the shot that traveled through two T-Bird screens on its way to the back of the net.
Down one, the Blazers pulled Ingram with 1:30 left in the game. Nick Holowko added an empty net goal for the T-Birds 45 seconds later to make it 3-1 and seal the victory. Barzal had the only assist.
Shots were 13-9 Seattle in the third period. Seattle led in faceoffs 10-5.
Seattle hosts the Everett Silvertips at 7:35 p.m. Friday. The two teams meet again in Everett at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
Tckets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The 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 – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.
Second period – 1, Seattle, Millette 21 (Bear, Barzal), 4:53. 2, Kamloops, Needham 23 (Revel, Ully), 17:16. Penalties – Eansor, Seattle (hooking), 6:47. Theodore, Seattle (cross-checking), 18:27.
Third period – 3, Seattle, Hauf 3 (Wardley, Gropp), 15:36. 4, Seattle, Holowko 5 (Barzal), 19:16 (en). Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-8-13 32, Kamloops 9-22-9 40. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 40 shots-39 saves (30-18-4-4); Kamloops, Ingram 31-29 (18-18-2-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-0; Kamloops 0-2. A – 5,073. Referees – Sean Raphael, Curtis Marouelli. Linesmen – Bevan Mills, Aaron Mills.
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