The Seattle Thunderbirds came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period Jan. 9 against the Chilliwack Bruins to force overtime and earn a point in the Western Conference playoff standings.
The Bruins scored a power-play goal 23 seconds into overtime to secure a 5-4 win after Charles Wells received a double minor for high-sticking at 17:28 of the third period. The T-Birds were able to shut down the Bruins power play to send the game to overtime.
By earning a point in the standings the T-Birds (17-16-4-4) have 42 points and are in seventh place.
They are one point behind the Vancouver Giants for sixth, two points behind the Kelowna Rockets who are in fifth and eight points behind the fourth place Tri-City Americans.
The T-Birds travel to Kennewick on Tuesday to face the Americans at 7:05pm at Toyota Center.
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead nine seconds into the game when Ryan Howse scored. Roman Horak had the only assist on the goal.
The T-Birds tied the game 1-1 at 7:39 of the first on a power-play goal by Burke Gallimore. Defenseman Erik Fleming sent the puck from behind the Seattle goal up the right boards to Gallimore in the neutral zone. Gallimore carried the puck in to the Bruins zone and from the between the circle with two defenders put a hard wrist shot on goal. Gallimore’s shot beat Chilliwack goalie Lucas Gore over the blocker for his 21st goal of the year.
Kevin Sundher scored at 8:04 of the first to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Steve Oursov and Dylan McKinlay had the assists.
Chilliwack (18-18-2-1) outshot Seattle 12-9 in the first period.
Marcel Noebels tied the game 2-2 at 4:57 of the second period. Defenseman Dave Sutter moved the puck to Charles Wells who carried it down the right side and into the Chilliwack zone. From the outside of the right circle Wells launched a slap shot on Gore. The shot rebounded off Gore’s right pad and into the slot and right to Noebels. Noebels quickly slapped the puck past a lunging Gore for his 12th goal of the year.
McKinlay scored an unassisted power-play goal at 11:13 of the second to make it a 3-2 Bruins lead.
Howse scored at 17:01 of the second to extend the Bruins lead to 4-2. Robin Soudek and Horak were credited with the assists.
The Bruins outshot the T-Birds 8-7 in the second period and led 20-16 in total shots after two periods.
Travis Toomey cut the Bruins lead to one goal at 10:40 of the third period with a power-play goal. Connor Sanvido sent the puck to Erik Fleming at the right point. Fleming put a wrist shot on goal. Gore made the save but the puck lay just to his left. Toomey was on top of the crease, reached for the puck with his backhand, moved the puck to his forehand and put in the back of the net for his 11th goal of the year. Toomey now has a four-game goal streak.
Seattle tied the game 4-4 at 15:23 of the third on Gallimore’s second goal of the game. Toomey took a shot from the right point just inside the blue line with Gallimore in front of Gore. Gallimore tipped Toomey’s shot over Gore’s blocker for the tying goal.
McKinlay scored a four-on-three power-play goal 23 seconds into overtime to get the Bruins the win. Horak and Howse were credited with the assists.
Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard made 23 saves on 28 shots and his record is now 17-14-3-4.
Gore stopped 20 of 24 shots and his record is now 16-12-2-1.
The T-Birds host the Everett Silvertips on Friday, January 14, at ShoWare Center at 7:35pm in a game that will be televised on FSN.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2010-11 season 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.
T-Birds group tickets are currently on sale. Group tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Chilliwack, Howse 25 (Horak), :09.2, Seattle, Gallimore 21 (Fleming), 7:39 (pp). 3, Chilliwack, Sundher 14 (Oursov, McKinlay), 8:04. Penalties – Hodges, Cwk (tripping), 5:57. Toomey, Sea (roughing), 9:28. Traber, Cwk (roughing), 9:28. Fleming, Sea (holding), 9:47.Topping, Cwk (checking from behind), 16:41.
Second period – 4, Seattle, Noebels 12 (Wells, Sutter), 4:57. 5, Chilliwack, McKinlay 3, 11:13 (pp). 6, Chilliwack, Howse 26 (Soudek, Horak), 17:01. Penalties – Bonsor, Sea (tripping), 9:33. Sundher, Cwk (hooking), 19:23.
Third period – 7, Seattle, Toomey 11 (Fleming), 10:40 (pp). 8, Seattle, Gallimore 22 (Toomey), 15:23. Penalties – Stahl, Cwk (roughing), 8:46. Wells, Sea (double minor-high sticking), 17:28.
Overtime – 9, Chilliwack, McKinlay 4 (Horak, Howse), :21 (pp). Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 9-7-8-0 24. Chilliwack 12-8-7-1 28. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 28 shots-23 saves (17-14-3-4); Chilliwack, Gore 24-20 (16-12-2-1). Power plays – Seattle 2-4; Chilliwack 2-4. A – 3,314. Referee – Pat Smith. Linesmen – Clayton Richardson, Ron Dietterle.
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