Charles Wells had two goals and an assist Tuesday night at CN Centre to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 6-3 victory over the Prince George Cougars.
These two teams will meet in a second game on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at CN Centre.
The T-Birds took a 1-0 lead at 15:25 of the first period on the 16th goal of the year from Wells. Colin Jacobs and Brenden Dillon had assists on the goal.
James Dobrowolski scored at 16:59 of the first to tie the game 1-1. Alex Rodgers had the only assist on the goal.
Seattle outshot Prince George 15-11 in the first period.
Seattle (16-35-7-4) went back in front 2-1 at of the second period. Wells stole the puck from a Prince George defender behind the Cougars net. Wells attempted to bring the puck to the front of the net but was tripped and a delayed penalty was called. From the ice Wells centered the puck to Prab Rai. Rai beat Prince George goalie Hudson Stremmel with a backhand shot high for his 38th goal of the year.
Jacobs gave the T-Birds a 3-1 lead with an unassisted goal at 10:48 of the second. Branden Troock forced a turnover with a check along the right boards. Jacobs got the loose puck in right circle and skated towards Stremmel. Jacobs, a right-handed shot, faked going around the net, brought the puck to his backhand and beat Stremmel with a quick shot over the glove.
Prince George (11-47-4-2) cut the T-Birds lead to one goal at 11:43 of the second on a goal by Greg Fraser. Rodgers had an assist on the goal.
Spencer Asuchak tied the game 3-3 for the Cougars at 17:16 of the second. Parker Stanfield had an assist on the goal.
Brendan Rouse scored with 17 seconds left in the second period to give the T-Birds a 4-3 lead heading into the second intermission. Mikhail Sentyurin had the puck in the left corner. He carried the puck behind the net and left the puck for Burke Gallimore coming from the right corner. Gallimore made backhand behind the back pass to Rouse in the slot. Rouse one- timed Gallimore’s pass and beat Stremmel over the glove for the go-ahead goal.
Prince George led in shots, 23-22, after two periods by outshooting the T-Birds 12-7 in the second period.
Seattle went in front by two goals at 16:32 of the third period when Brenden Silvester scored his fourth goal of the year. Erik Bonsor sent the puck behind the Cougars net to Sentyurin. Sentyurin fought for the puck and it popped out to Silvester to the left of the net. Silvester brought the puck in front and beat Stremmel with a low shot.
Wells scored a power-play goal at 17:20 of the third to put the T-Birds in front 6-3. Jeremy Schappert carried the puck up ice and passed to Rai on his left. Rai carried the puck into the Cougars zone and into the left circle. Rai centered the puck to Wells who cradled the puck and then beat Stremmel with a hard snap shot over the blocker.
Seattle outshot Prince George 9-6 in the third period and 31-29 in the game.
Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard made 26 saves on 29 shots and his record is now 14-29-7-2.
Stremmel stopped 25 of 31 shots and his record is now 6-20-1-1.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period 1, Seattle, Wells 16 (Jacobs, Dillon) 15:25. 2, Prince George, Dobrowolski 14 (Rodgers), 16:59. Penalties Makin, PG (tripping), :16. Dillon, Sea (tripping), 2:29. Stanfield, PG (high-sticking), 2:34. Stanfield, PG (hooking), 11:24. Bidlevskii, PG (major-fighting), 13:20. Alos, Sea (major-fighting), 13:20.
Second period 3, Seattle, Rai 38 (Wells), 1:20, 4, Seattle, Jacobs 9, 10:48. 5, Prince George, Fraser (Rodgers), 11:43. 6, Prince George, Asuchak 9 (Stanfield, Bidlevskii), 17:16. 7, Seattle, Rouse 5 (Gallimore, Sentyurin), 19:43. Penalties Troock, Sea (interference), 8:16. Medland-Marchen, PG (hooking), 12:29.
Third period 8, Seattle, Silvester 4 (Sentyurin, Bonsor), 16:32. 9, Seattle, Wells 17 (Rai, Schappert) 17:20 (pp). Penalties Makin, PG (goaltender interference), 4:09. Makin, PG (tripping), 8:47. Troock, Sea (goaltender interference), 8:55. Sentyurin, Sea (tripping), 12:06. Dobrowolski, PG (tripping), 16:38. Jacobs, Sea (double minor-roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 17:15. Forsberg, PG (double minor-roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 17:51. Sentyurin, Sea (roughing), 17:51. Vlach, PG (cross checking), 17:51.
Shots on goal Seattle 15-7-9 31. Prince George 11-12-6 29. Goalies Seattle, Pickard 29 shots-26 saves (14-29-7-4); Prince George, Stremmel 31-25 (6-20-1-1). Power plays Seattle 1-7; Prince George 0-4. A 1,672. Referee Andy Thiessen. Linesmen Mike Basford, Adam Hyatt.
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