The Seattle Thunderbirds came back from two one-goal deficits to take the lead Friday night against the Spokane Chiefs at Veterans Memorial Arena, but they couldn’t do it a third time as the Chiefs held on for a 5-4 victory.
The T-Birds pulled goalie Calvin Pickard for an extra attacker with a 1:30 left in the third period. They put pressure on the Chiefs but were not able to get the tying goal past Spokane goalie Mac Engel.
The T-Birds scored two power-play goals and a shorthanded goal in a game that featured four lead changes.
The T-Birds remain tied for seventh place in the Western Conference playoff standings with the Victoria Royals. They face the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday at ShoWare Center at 7:05pm.
Spokane (31-16-4-3) opened the scoring at 14:59 of the first on a goal from Dylan Walchuk. Cole Wedman and Tanner Mort had the assists.
The Chiefs outshot the T-Birds 8-6 in the first period.
The Birds took a 2-1 lead with two power-play goals in 40 seconds in the second period. Colin Jacobs got behind the Spokane defense as they were changing players with the T-Birds on a 5-on-3 power play. Shea Theodore found Jacobs with a long pass to put him on a breakaway. Jacobs came down on Engel, dodged a stick check from beat him with a back hand shot high at 4:23 of the period. Pickard had the second assist on the goal.
Burke Gallimore gave the T-Birds the lead 2-1 at 5:03 of the second. Jacobs moved the puck from the left corner to Theodore at the point. Theodore put a slap shot on goal that Gallimore tipped past Engel for his 19th goal of the season.
Mike Aviani tied the game 2-2 at 9:08 of the second. Collin Valcourt and Davis Vandane had the assists.
Spokane took the lead back at 11:17 of the second on a goal from Valcourt. Brenden Kichton had the only assist on the goal.
Seattle (19-33-1-1) tied the game 3-3 on an unassisted shorthanded goal by Brendan Rouse at 14:56 of second. The T-Birds got the puck past the Spokane defender at the right point along the boards. Rouse chased after the puck down as it slid down the right wing. Engel thought he could get to the puck before Rouse and left his crease, but then stopped when he realized he wouldn’t get there in time. Rouse got to the puck with a full head of steam with Engel out of position. Rouse skated to his right around Engel and lifted a backhand past the goalie for his fourth goal of the season.
Spokane outshot Seattle16-5 in the second period and led 24-11 in total shots after two periods.
Branden Troock gave the T-Birds their second lead in the game at 4:40 of the third period. Troock sent the puck up the left wall to Brad Deagle at the left point. Deagle took a shot that was blocked and landed in the slot. Troock got to the loose puck and put a hard wrist shot on goal. Troock’s shot hit Engel in the arm and rolled over his shoulder and into the net. It was Troock’s 10th goal of the season.
Spokane tied the game 4-4 at 5:47 of the third on a goal from Marek Kalus. Vandane and Steve Kuhn had the assists.
The Chiefs went in front 5-4 at 6:22 of the third on a goal by Cole Wedman. The assists went to Aviani and Vandane.
Spokane outshot Seattle 32-20 in the game.
Pickard stopped 27 of 32 shots and his record is now 19-28-1-1.
Engel made 16 saves on 20 shots and his record is now 23-14-1-2.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2011-12 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 season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Spokane, Walchuk 6 (Wedman, Mort), 14:59. Penalties – Rouse, Sea (holding), 4:02. Kalus, Spo (goaltender interference), 8:50. Vandane, Spo (roughing), 11:03. Wagner, Sea (hooking), 19:08.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Jacobs 7 (Theodore, Pickard) 4:23 (pp). 3, Seattle, Gallimore 19 (Theodore, Jacobs), 5:03 (pp). 4, Spokane, Aviani 11 (Valcourt, Vandane), 9:08. 5, Spokane, Valcourt 13 (Kichton), 11:17. 3, Seattle, Rouse 4, 14:56 (sh). Penalties – Gal, Spo (checking from behind), 3:23. Aviani, Spo (tripping), 3:41. Alos, Sea (delay of game), 6:01. Hickman, Sea (slashing), 15:20. Uher, Spo (roughing), 19:32.
Third period – 7, Seattle, Troock 10 (Deagle), 4:40. 8, Spokane, Kalus 15 (Vandane, Kuhn), 5:47. 9, Spokane, Wedman 2 (Aviani, Vandane), 6:22. Penalties – Machacek, Sea (hooking), 9:11.
Shots on goal – Seattle 6-5-9 20. Spokane 8-16-8 32. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 32 shots-27 saves (19-28-1-1); Spokane, Engel 20-16 (23-14-1-2). Power plays – Seattle 2-5; Spokane 0-5. A – 7,810. Referee – Trevor Hansen, Brett Iverson. Linesmen – Anthony Guzzo, Jim Maniago.
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