The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Kelowna Rockets 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night at the ShoWare Center in Kent to end an eight-game home losing streak.
The T-Birds had not won a home game since beating Moose Jaw 2-0 on Dec. 30.
Seattle (20-34-1-1) moved into sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference playoff standings with the win. The T-Birds are two points ahead of the Victoria Royals, who are in eighth place. The Everett Silvertips are in ninth place, one point behind the Royals while the Prince George Cougars are four points behind the Royals.
First up for the T-Birds in the shootout was Colin Jacobs. Jacobs took a wrist shot that went through Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke’s legs to score the first shootout goal for Seattle. Jacobs is four for five in the shootout this season. Myles Bell was the first shooter for Kelowna and was stopped by Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard’s right skate.
Second up for Seattle was Branden Troock, who was stopped by Cooke. Zach Franko was the second shooter for the Rockets. Franko made a move right and Pickard extended his left leg to deny Franko at the post.
Connor Honey was the final shooter for Seattle. Honey carried the puck through the slot made a move to his backhand and lifted the puck over Cooke’s blocker, hitting the cross bar and dropping into the net to give the T-Birds the win.
Pickard made 33 saves on 36 shots and is credited with the win increasing his record to 20-29-1-1.
Kelowna (24-25-3-5) took the lead with a goal from Carter Rigby at 1:34 of the first period. Damon Severson and Madison Bowey were credited with the assists.
Seattle tied it 1-1 at 8:34 of the first on a power play goal from Troock. Braeden Laroque took a slap shot that was blocked by traffic in the crease. Troock grabbed the rebound and while turning whipped the puck past Cooke on the stick side for his 12th goal of the season.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead with an unassisted goal from Burke Gallimore. A Kelowna defender stole the puck away from Gallimore in the slot and then skated backwards to gain time and space. The Kelowna defender lifted the puck into the air to clear the zone but Gallimore caught the puck and dropped it back onto the ice. He skated towards Cooke and beat the goalie with a hard snap shot on the glove side at 12:26 of the first.
Seattle took a three-goal lead over Kelowna at 17:40 of the first. Tyler Alos got the puck at the boards and passed it to Jacob Doty at the left circle. Doty passed the puck to Justin Hickman but it was intercepted by a Kelowna defender. Hickman hit the puck lose from the defender and Doty caught the rebound. Doty sent the puck into the crease and Hickman redirected the puck past Cooke’s for his 11th goal of the season.
The T-Birds led the Rockets 11-7 in shots on goal after the first period.
Franko scored Kelowna’s second goal of the night at 5:50 of the second. Tyson Baillie and Tanner Moar had the assists.
Seattle led Kelowna 19-17 in shots after two periods of play.
While on the power play, Kelowna was awarded a penalty shot after the referees rule that the T-Birds had intentionally knocked the net off its pegs at 19:07 of the third. Bell took the penalty shot and beat Pickard to score the tying goal the Rockets, sending the game into overtime.
Kelowna led Seattle 35-26 in shots after three periods.
The Rockets led the T-Birds 37-26 in shots after overtime period.
Cooke made 23 saves on 26 shots bringing his record to 6-6-2-3.
Seattle faces the Tri-City Americans on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:35 p.m. at the ShoWare Center. The T-Birds travel to Portland to play the Winterhawks on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Kelowna, Rigby 17 (Severson, Bowey), 1:34. 2, Seattle, Troock 12 (Laroque), 8:34 (pp). 3, Seattle, Gallimore 19, 12:26. 4, Seattle, Hickman 11 (Doty, Alos), 17:40. Penalties – Laroque, Sea (interference), 3:58. Bulmer, Kel (roughing), 6:43. Wagner, Sea (roughing), 10:37. McColgan, Kel (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:37.
Second period – 5, Kelowna, Franko 8 (Baillie, Moar), 5:50. Penalties – Bell, Kel (hooking), 3:22. Rigby, Kel (unsportsmanlike conduct) 10:42. Machacek, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:42.
Third period – 6, Kelowna, Bell 12, 19:07 (ps). Penalties – Baillie, Kel (goaltender interference), 7:35. Jacobs, Sea (tripping), 18:18. Deagle, Sea (delay of game), 19:07.
Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.
Shootout – Seattle 2 (Jacobs G, Troock NG, Honey G). Kelowna 0 (Bell NG, Franko NG).
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-8-7-0 26. Kelowna 7-10-18-2 37. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 37 shots-33 saves (20-29-1-1); Kelowna, Cooke 26-23 (6-6-2-3). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Kelowna 0-2. A – 3,288. Referee – Sean Raphael, Jeff Ingram. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Kevin Boris.
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