T-Birds break Moose Jaw, take shootout | WHL

For the Reporter

The Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday night at ShoWare Center.

The win put Seattle’s record at 29-14-2-3 and just four points out of first in the U.S. Division. Moose Jaw fell to 13-26-3-5.

Shea Theodore scored the only goal of the shootout, giving Seattle the win after Taran Kozun stopped the last Moose Jaw shooter in the third round.

There was no scoring in the overtime period despite Seattle racking up six shots to Moose Jaw’s one. Seattle did lose four of six faceoffs in the extra period, but were still able to control the puck and pepper Justin Paulic with shots.

Kozun made his fourth straight start for the T-Birds and stopped 29 of 31 shots in regulation and all three shooters in the shootout to get the win, his fourth as a T-Bird after winning only five in 28 games with Kamloops. Kozun was glad for the opportunity to “come in (to Seattle) and give the team a chance to win each and every night” after changing teams at the trade deadline.

Paulic was in net for Moose Jaw, getting the loss after stopping 35 shots to make his record 8-19-3-5.

Moose Jaw had a 5-on-3 chance for 30 seconds at the 11:44 mark in the third period. An immediate faceoff win and a blocked shot by Scott Eansor contributed to this opportunity falling by the wayside. Seattle drew a penalty during the ensuing 5-on-4 to open the ice up for 46 seconds before the home team had their seventh power play of the game, matching Moose Jaw’s total. Theodore rocketed two passes across the offensive zone during the 4-on-4 even strength time that almost ended in goals, only for Paulic to keep them out.

Another great pass, this time by Roberts Lipsbergs, set up Alexander Delnov in front of the net on a rush with four minutes left, but Delnov was unable to control the puck well enough to get a strong shot. Moose Jaw came back down quickly, firing a shot off the outside of the crossbar.

The Warriors attempted to pull their goalie with 2:30 left but couldn’t control the puck long enough to get him off the ice. Paulic had to scrambled back at one point after making it halfway to the bench and only made it all the way to the bench when a Seattle penalty made it 6-on-4 off a faceoff in the Seattle zone.

Several wild scrambles around the net ensued, with the Warriors getting the tying goal with just seven seconds left. Point scored the goal, his second of the night. It was the only power-play goal of the night for Moose Jaw, who had eight chances.

Coach Steve Konowalchuk noted that the penalties were deserved and that the team “wanted to play with emotion … but have to keep it in line.”

Shots were 15-9 Moose Jaw in the third and faceoffs were 9-7 Seattle before the game went to overtime.

Next on the docket for Seattle is a game on the road against the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Friday. The T-Birds then have back-to-back home games this weekend, playing at ShoWare Center against the Everett Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. Saturday and against the Kelowna Rockets at 5:05 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets

Game tickets 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.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Eansor 3 (Yakubowski, Hauf), :33. 2, Seattle, Bear 4 (Theodore), 3:46 (pp). 3, Moose Jaw, Point 21 (Gore, Cooke), 19:37. Penalties – Gore, Moose Jaw (hooking), 2:21. Kolesar, Seattle (high-sticking), 6:50. Eberle, Moose Jaw (closing hand on the puck), 8:57. Johnson, Moose Jaw (roughing), 13:33. Yakubowski, Seattle (roughing), 13:33. Kolesar, Seattle (slashing), 15:51.

Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Johnson, Moose Jaw (tripping), 3:57. Kolesar, Seattle (checking from behind), 6:48. Wardley, Seattle (major-fighting), 6:48. Wolf, Seattle (major-fighting), 6:48. Wolf, Seattle (game misconduct), 6:48. Hauf, Seattle (10 minute misconduct), 6:48. Cooke, Moose Jaw (major-fighting), 6:48. Brown, Moose Jaw (10 minute misconduct), 6:48. Jensen, Moose Jaw (major-fighting), 6:48. Jensen, Moose Jaw (game misconduct), 6:48. Johnson, Moose Jaw (high-sticking), 9:24. Eansor, Seattle (slashing), 11:49. Forsberg, Moose Jaw (hooking), 17:34.

Third period – 4, Moose Jaw, Point 22 (Forsberg, Sleptsov), 19:52 (pp). Penalties – Fioretti, Moose Jaw (tripping), 2:26. Wardley, Seattle (interference), 7:39. Elliot, Seattle (checking from behind), 10:31. Hickman, Seattle (tripping), 11:44. Valentine, Moose Jaw (high-sticking), 12:54. Wardley, Seattle (kneeing), 18:42. Cooke, Moose Jaw (10 minute misconduct), 20:00.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 1 (Barzal NG, Theodore G, Lipsbergs NG). Moose Jaw 0 (Point NG, White NG, Fioretti NG).

Shots on goal – Seattle 13-9-9-6 38, Moose Jaw 9-6-15-1 31. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 31 shots-29 saves (9-19-2-1); Moose Jaw, Paulic 37-35 (8-19-3-5). Power plays – Seattle 1-7; Moose Jaw 1-8. A – 4,594. Referees – Justin Ingram, Dexter Rasmussen. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Ron Dietterle.