Newly acquired right wing Seth Swenson scored two goals to help the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 on Monday at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Swenson was acquired at the trade deadline on Jan. 10 from the Portland Winterhawks for left wing Marcel Noebels and first-round bantam picks in 2012 and 2013.
The T-Birds travel to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.
Mike Aviani opened the scoring at 3:46 of the first period to put the Chiefs in front 1-0. Marek Kalus and Corbin Baldwin had the assists.
Both teams had 11 shots on goal in the first period.
Seattle (17-23-0-1) tied the game 1-1 at 4:21 of the second period on a power-play goal from Swenson. The T-Birds moved the puck around the Spokane zone with some crisp passes. Swenson got the puck at the left post and jammed it past goalie Mac Engel for the tying goal. Luke Lockhart and Connor Honey had the assists on Swenson’s first goal as a T-Bird.
Spokane (22-14-3-3) went in front 2-1 on a goal from Blake Gal at 6:42 of the second. Steve Kuhn had the only assist on the goal.
The Chiefs outshot the T-Birds 8-5 in the second period and led 19-16 in total shots after two periods.
At 11:35 of the third period, Swenson and Connor Sanvido worked the give-and-go to perfection to tie the game 2-2. Swenson carried the puck up ice on the left side with Sanvido on his right and Dillon Wagner trailing the play. In the faceoff circle Swenson passed the puck to Sanvido, who sent it right back to Swenson, forcing Engel to follow the puck. When Swenson got the puck back he beat a lunging Engel for his second goal of the night.
Justin Hickman gave the T-Birds the lead, 3-2, at 14:36 of the third with a shorthanded goal. Tyler Alos sent the puck up ice from the left boards to a breaking Hickman. Hickman came down on Engel and put a shot on goal. Engel made the save but the slid backwards into the goal with the puck giving Hickman the goal. Brad Deagle had the second assist on the goal. Swenson was in the penalty box serving an interference penalty when Hickman scored.
Spokane outshot Seattle 14-8 in the third period and 33-24 in the game.
Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard stopped 31 of 33 shots and his record is now 17-19-0-1.
Engel made 21 saves on 24 shots and his record is now 19-12-1-2.
The T-Birds next home game is Friday, Jan. 20, against the Kamloops Blazers at 7:35 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Spokane, Aviani 7 (Kalus, Baldwin) 3:46. Penalties – Kramer, Spo (major-fighting), :21. Machacek, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting), :21. Machacek, Sea (interference), 9:45.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Swenson 2 (Lockhart, Honey), 4:21 (pp). 3, Spokane, Gal 10 (Kuhn), 6:42. Penalties – Bench, Spo (too many men) 2:38. Kramer, Spo (tripping), 13:37. Sutter, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:15.
Third period – 4, Seattle, Swenson 3 (Sanvido), 11:35. 5, Seattle, Hickman 7 (Alos, Deagle), 14:36 (sh). Penalties – Sanvido, Sea (hooking), 9:21.Gallimore, Sea (tripping), 16:14.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-5-8 24. Spokane 11-8-14 33 Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 33 shots-31 saves (17-19-0-1); Spokane, Engel 24-21 (19-12-1-2). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Spokane 0-6. A – 4,243. Referee – Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Jeremi Del Campo, Nathan Van Oosten.
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