Thunderbirds thump Winterhawks, 6-3 | WHL

For the Reporter

The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Portland Winterhawks, 6-3, in Western Hockey League action at the ShoWare Center on Friday night.

The win pushes Seattle to 26-19-3-3, good for third in the U.S. Division, and gives the T-Birds a three-game win streak. Portland drops to 31-20-0-3, but holds a seven-point lead on Seattle in the standings.

Taran Kozun made 26 saves to earn his 23rd victory of the season. Adin Hill took the loss after making 37 saves on 43 shots. Hill is 20-8-0-0 this year.

Mathew Barzal kicked off the scoring in the first period. Barzal collected the puck after a pass from Evan Wardley on the rush bounced off a Portland defender’s skate. The center deked deep into the zone before flipping the puck over Hill’s glove for his eighth goal of the season and sixth point in seven games since returning from injury.

Roberts Lipsbergs made it 2-0 at 5:48. Shea Theodore took the puck at the point from Turner Ottenbreit before shooting into traffic. Lipsbergs tipped the puck in the slot to redirect it past Hill for the power-play goal. The assist put Theodore into a tie with Craig Channell for most points ever by a T-Birds defenseman with 187.

Wardley added a third goal for the T-Birds at 3:49 of the second period to extend the lead. Lipsbergs worked the puck up the boards to Wardley at the blue line. Wardley’s slap shot found the back of the net without any interference, flying over Hill’s shoulder before the goalie could position himself. Lipsbergs and Nick Holowko had the assists on Wardley’s fifth goal of the season.

However, the Winterhawks fought back to tie the game on Dominic Turgeon unassisted goal at 5:55 of the third period.

But the T-Birds’ Ryan Gropp scored on his third opportunity of the period at 7:52. Gropp skated into the slot just as Ottenbreit took a shot from high in the zone. The puck was redirected by Gropp enough to fool Hill and make it 4-3. It was Gropp’s 21st goal of the season and was assisted by Ottenbreit and Lipsbergs.

A torrid power play for the visitors nearly tied the game if not for the strong work of Kozun and a bit of luck. Kozun knocked a shot away while prone on the ice before another Portland shot went off the post. Seattle was able to clear the puck after that and, with the aid of a high stick by the Winterhawks, end the man advantage with the lead intact.

Lipsbergs made it a two-goal lead soon after the game returned to even strength, scoring on a partial breakaway for his fourth point of the night. Lipsbergs eventually collected the puck behind the defense after a fight for it in the neutral zone and worked to his right to beat Hill with a backhand at 14:14. Theodore had the only assist, putting him in sole possession of the career points record amongst Thunderbirds defenseman.

Scott Eansor put a ribbon on the T-Birds’ victory with a goal with 29 seconds left in the game. Eansor stole the puck in the neutral zone and was tripped up as he broke away all alone. Even so, Eansor got the puck through Hill’s pads to make it 6-3.

Seattle had 20 shots on goal in the third period, outpacing Portland’s nine.

Next: Giants come to Kent

The T-Birds are back in action at home at 7:05 tonight to take on the Vancouver Giants.

Seattle travels to Vancouver to play the Giants at 2 p.m. Monday.

Tickets are available online 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, Barzal 8 (Wardley), 1:24. 2, Seattle, Lipsbergs 5 (Theodore, Ottenbreit), 5:48 (pp). Penalties – Cederholm, Portland (cross-checking), 5:14. Iverson, Portland (major-fighting), 17:39. Iverson, Portland (roughing), 17:39. Hauf, Seattle (major-fighting), 17:39. Petan, Portland (hooking), 18:48.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Wardley 5 (Lipsbergs, Holowko), 3:49. 4, Portland, Bjorkstrand 36 (Viveiros, Hill), 13:34. Penalties – Bittner, Portland (interference), 15:41.

Third period – 5, Portland, Iverson 7 (De Leo), 4:19. 6, Portland, Turgeon 16 (unassisted), 5:55. 7, Seattle, Gropp 21 (Ottenbreit, Lipsbergs), 7:52. 8, Seattle, Lipsbergs 6 (Theodore), 14:14. 9, Seattle, Eansor 8 (unassisted), 19:30. Penalties – Bench, Seattle (too many men-served by Gropp), 11:27. Heinrich, Portland (tripping), 17:27.

Shots on goal – Seattle 11-12-20 43, Portland 6-14-9 29. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 29 shots-26 saves (23-14-3-3); Portland, Hill 43-37 (20-8-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Portland 0-1. A – 4,178. Referees – Chris Crich, Nathan Wieler. Linesmen – Aaron Mills, Ron Dietterle.