Mumaugh magnificent but T-Birds tumble to Pats | WHL

The Regina Pats defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-3 Saturday night at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

Seattle goalie Danny Mumaugh had a stellar game, making 49 saves, including several greats ones as the T-Birds killed off a five-minute major penalty in the third period only down a goal.

A quick goal for the visitors started things on the wrong foot for the T-Birds, who were down 1-0 only two minutes into the game. Morgan Klimchuk was credited with the goal, as the puck ricocheted off him into the net.

Seattle (11-7-0-2) was unable to start a counterattack and play remained tilted Regina’s way for much of the game’s first five minutes. The T-Birds were unable to get past the neutral zone on almost any attempt early on.  Mumaugh’s net work was strong, making up for any miscues and keeping the score right where it was.

Physical play by Regina, along with a few icing calls against Seattle, kept the game’s pace in the visitor’s favor. The T-Birds began to turn the tide nine minutes into the first period, controlling the puck offensively for two shifts. That was all the spark the team needed to get in the game.

Alexander Delnov tied the game not long thereafter, deking past a Regina defenseman and slipping it through Regina goalie Dawson MacAuley’s pads. Scott Eansor and Jared Hauf received the assists. The assist was the first point of Eansor’s WHL career.

The goal was just what Seattle needed to open up their attack. Newfound energy flowed from the team as the T-Birds held the puck and attacked offensively. Regina’s physical play continued, resulting in a dust up in the crease. The result of it all was offsetting penalties and an attacking zone faceoff lost by the T-Birds. Fore checking gave the puck back to the home team without it ever leaving the zone.

The home team took advantage of the 4-on-4 chance, scoring to take the lead. Branden Troock powered the puck in, giving the winger his fifth goal of the year. Mathew Barzal had the assist.

Another chance almost immediately after was only stopped by a Regina interference penalty. Seattle’s power play took the ice for the first time in the game. The Pats cleared the puck after the initial faceoff, but were pinned in their own zone the rest of the penalty. Even so, no goals resulted, and the score remained 2-1 Seattle.

Regina (11-9-0-0) narrowly missed tying the game with 2:30 left in the first when a puck trickled through Mumaugh’s pads. The T-Birds were able to recover and clear the puck out of the crease before it crossed the goal line. That close call was the last of the period.

Seattle’s 2-1 lead was built on a strong second half to the first. Shots ended 13-13 after Seattle was outshot 10-1 in the first five minutes.

Less than friendly disputes following the first period’s conclusion forced the T-Birds to start the second on the penalty kill. Mumaugh stood tall in net and stopped everything Regina could muster on the power play. It took a bit longer for Seattle to get possession back after returning to even strength hockey, but the defense held throughout with more help from Mumaugh. Two glove saves highlighted the period for the 17-year-old, who stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced.

The strongest chance of a period bereft of them for the T-Birds came nine minutes in when the Pats were forced into a hooking call. Seattle’s power play took the ice for the second time in the game. The home team went without a goal despite a few shots, including a chance at the puck as it rolled away from MacAuley with only two seconds left in the penalty.

Mumaugh continued his hot night with a sequence of stops sending him sprawling around the crease. Seattle was able to clear and continue on, holding a 2-1 lead. MacAuley matched his opposing netminder with some stalwart work of his own in a period made for goalie fans.

Regina managed to tie the game at two when a holding call to Seattle gave the visitors a man advantage. The Klimchuk goal, his second of the night, came from a pass the width of the ice by Chandler Stephenson.

Seattle had a quick change of fortune: the puck just rolled past the post to deny Regina a goal before the home team earned their third power play. Nothing came of the advantage, leaving the score tied.

The period once again ended with a T-Birds penalty, this one coming with 30 seconds left. Regina outshot Seattle 14-8 in the second.

The third period began with more of the same. Mumaugh was forced into tough positions and came through with flying colors. A save on a one-timer from only a few feet out added to the goaltender’s highlight package of a game. A major penalty and a game misconduct were given to the T-Birds Justin Hickman when a Regina player was injured on a hit near the boards.

Five minutes on the man advantage made no difference for the Pats. A combination of team defense and Mumaugh’s mojo kept the game at 2-2. Even with the kill’s success, Regina took the lead a minute later. Braden Christoffer scored off a rush down the left wing and Marc McCoy had the only assist.

Another penalty was given to Seattle at 10:48 and the Pats scored almost as soon as the power play started, making the game 4-2. Boston Leier scored, with Connor Gay and Stevenson getting the assists. Frustration was apparent for the home team, who refused to let up despite being outshot in part due to penalties.

The physicality of the game increased as time wound down. Penalties began to mount, with the resulting power play for Seattle paying off. Adam Henry scored at 17:15 of the third as he skated between the faceoff dots. Troock and Theodore had the assists on the goal.

With the game at 4-3 and only two minutes remaining, Mumaugh went to the bench, giving Seattle the extra attacker. Regina scored in the empty net with 23 seconds left in the game, making the score 5-3 and sealing the game.

The T-Birds next game is Tuesday at Portland to play the Winterhawks at 7:05 p.m.

For game tickets, visit the T-Birds website at tickets.seattlethunderbirds.com 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, Regina, Klimchuk 11 (Gay, Leier), 1:27. 2, Seattle, Delnov 8 (Eansor, Hauf), 9:47. 3, Seattle, Troock 5 (Barzal), 13:10. Penalties – Hand, Regina (roughing), 12:59. Hickman, Seattle (roughing), 12:59. Leier, Regina (interference), 14:45. Yakubowski, Seattle (roughing), 20:00.

Second period – 4, Regina, Klimchuk 12 (Stevenson, Gay), 13:42 (pp). Penalties – Zgraggen, Regina (hooking), 8:44. Hauf, Seattle (holding), 13:25. Zgraggen, Regina (interference), 14:59. Hickman, Seattle (slashing), 19:29.

Third period – 5, Regina, Christoffer 1 (McCoy), 8:50. 6, Regina, Leier 13 (Gay, Stevenson), 11:18 (pp). 7, Seattle, Henry 2 (Troock, Theodore), 17:15 (pp). 8, Regina, Burroughs 1, 19:37 (en). Penalties – Hickman, Seattle (major-boarding), 3:03. Hickman, Seattle (game misconduct), 3:03. Theodore, Seattle (crosschecking), 10:48. Zgraggen, Regina (roughing), 16:52. Zgraggen, Regina (crosschecking), 16:52. McKechnie, Seattle (slashing), 16:52.

Shots on goal – Seattle 13-8-10 31, Regina 13-14-27 54. Goalies – Seattle, Mumaugh 53 shots-49 saves (5-4-0-2); Regina, MacAuley 31-28 (11-6-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Regina 2-5. A – 4,014. Referees – Jason Nissen, Andrew Wilk. Linesmen – Mark Heier, Adam Brastad.