T-Birds’ rally falls short against Saskatoon Dec. 30

The Saskatoon Blades defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 Wednesday night at ShoWare Center in Kent.

The T-Birds were down four goals after two periods but rallied and scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the third period. They also had several solid opportunities in the last two minutes of the game but were unable to get the tying goal.

Branden Troock made his WHL debut in the game and had an assist on Seattle’s third goal. Troock was the T-Birds first round selection in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.

Stefan Elliott put the Blades in front 1-0 at 3:52 of the first period when he scored a five-on-three power-play goal. Derek Hulak and Sam Klassen had the assists.

Saskatoon (25-7-1-3) went in front 2-0 on a power- play goal at 4:20 of the first period by Chris Nicholls. Tyler Kiziuk and Charles Inglis had the assists on the goal.

Saskatoon outshot Seattle 10-9 in the first period.

Walker Wintoneak gave the Blades a 3-0 lead with a five-on-three power-play goal at 4:25 of the second period. Klassen and Elliott had the assists on the goal.

Burke Gallimore put Saskatoon in front 4-0 at 15:11 of the second when he scored his 12th goal of the year. Charles Inglis and Nicholls had assists on the goal.

The Blades outshot the T-Birds 17-7 in the second period and led 27-16 in total shots after two periods.

Seattle (13-20-2-4) got on the board at 2:07 of the third period when Chance Lund scored his second goal of the year. Lund’s goal was unassisted.

The T-Birds cut the Blades’ lead to two goals when Prab Rai scored a power-play goal at 7:03 of the third. Sena Acolatse took a slap shot from the right point that Saskatoon goalie Adam Morrison stopped. The puck rebounded to the goalie’s right where Charles Wells slapped at the puck. Morrison again made the save but Rai knocked the rebound out of the air and past the goalie for his 23rd goal of the year.

Lund got the T-Birds to within one goal 15 seconds after Rai’s goal. Troock put a shot on goal that Morrison stopped but Lund was there to get the rebound and slam it past the goalie. Brenden Dillon had the second assist on the goal.

Seattle outshot Saskatoon 18-5 in the third period and 34-32 in the game.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard made 28 saves on 32 shots and his record is now 11-16-2-4.

Morrison stopped 31 of 34 shots and his record is 12- 6-0.

The T-Birds travel to Portland Thursday to take on the Winterhawks in the annual New Year’s Eve game. Game time is 8:05 p.m. at the Rose Garden. They are back at ShoWare Center on Sunday, January 3, at 5:05 p.m. to take on the Spokane Chiefs.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Saskatoon, Elliott 12 (Hulak, Klassen), 3:52 (pp). 2, Saskatoon, Nicholls 6 (Kizuik, Inglis), 4:20 (pp). Penalties – Ramsay, Sea (major-fighting), :23. Dziurzynski, Sas, (major- fighting), :23. Dillon, Sea (interference), 2:04. Warg, Sea (roughing), 2:50. Nicholls, Sas (double-minor high sticking), 12:08. Morin, Sas, (tripping), 17:52.

Second period – 3, Saskatoon, Wintoneak 18 (Klassen, Elliott), 4:25 (pp). 4, Saskatoon, Gallimore 12 (Inglis, Nicholls), 15:11. Penalties – Rouse, Sea (major-checking from behind, game misconduct), :29. Nicholls, Sas (goaltender interference), 1:51. Ramsay, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:09. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Sentyurin), 8:24. Morin, Sas (holding), 12:17. Jacobs, Sea (elbowing), 19:16.

Third period – 5, Seattle, Lund 2, 2:07. 6, Seattle, Rai 23 (Wells, Acolatse), 7:03 (pp). 6, Seattle, Lund 3 (Troock, Dillon), 7:18. Penalties – Nicholls, Sas (goaltender interference), 6:13. Dillon, Sea (slashing), 8:43. Inglis, Sas (hooking), 10:20. Klassen, Sas (hooking), 19:25.

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-7-18 34. Saskatoon 10-17-5 32. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 32 shots-28 saves (11-16-2-4); Saskatoon, Morrison 34- 31 (12-6-0-3). Power plays – Seattle 1-7; Saskatoon 3-7. A – 4,032. Referee – Adam Byblow, Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Tim Digby, Nathan van Oosten.