T-Birds ring in new year with traveling victory over Portland

The Seattle Thunderbirds ended 2010 with a 4-3 victory Dec. 31 over the Portland Winterhawks at the Rose Garden in Portland.

The T-Birds can ring in 2011 with a victory as they face the Kamloops Blazers Jan. 1 at 7:05 p.m. at ShoWare Center.

Portland (25-12-0-3) took a 1-0 lead at 16:57 of the first period on a goal by Craig Cunningham. Brad Ross and Troy Rutkowski had the assists.

The T-Birds tied the game 1-1 with nine seconds left in the first period on a power-play goal by Travis Bobbee. Luke Lockhart had the puck behind the Portland net. Lockhart sent the puck to Burke Gallimore in the left corner. Gallimore came up the left boards while Bobbee snuck down from the right point. Gallimore made a cross ice pass to Bobbee in the right circle. Bobbee controlled the puck, moved to his left slightly and then snapped a hard wrist shot over the blocker of Portland goalie Mac Carruth for his fifth goal of the season.

Portland outshot Seattle 15-7 in the first period.

Cunningham deflected a Ty Rattie point shot past Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard at 10:02 of the second period to give the Winterhawks a 2-1 lead. Ross had the second assist.

Jake Doty tied the game 2-2 for the T-Birds at 12:59 of the second. Mitch Elliot carried the puck into the Portland zone and put a backhand shot on goal from the right circle. The puck rebounded off Carruth to the slot where Tyler Alos got to it and took a shot. Alos’ shot rebounded to the Portland goalies right. Doty was crashing the crease and got to the loose puck. Carruth tried to get over but Doty slammed the puck through the goalie’s legs for his second goal of the year.

A Portland defenseman lost the puck at the right point of the Seattle zone. Charles Wells scooped up the loose puck and took off on a breakaway. Wells came down on Carruth, went right and snuck the puck past the goalie’s outstretched left pad for his 10th goal of the year.

Seattle (16-13-3-4) outshot Portland 13-11 in the second period but the Winterhawks led in shots, 26-20, after two periods.

The Winterhawks tied the game 3-3 at 11:12 of the third period on the third goal of the game from Cunningham. Ross and Rattie were credited with the assists.

Luke Lockhart put the T-Birds in front 4-3 at 16:27 of the third with his 14th goal of the year. Chance Lund carried the puck up the left side of the ice and into the Portland zone. Lund put a shot on goal that deflected off a defenseman’s skate to Lockhart coming down the slot. Lockhart controlled the puck with his right skate and then slipped the puck under Carruth for the go-ahead goal.

Portland outshot Seattle 12-7 in the third period and 38-27 in the game.

Pickard made 35 saves on 38 shots and his record is now 16-11-2-4.

Carruth made 23 saves on 27 shots and his record is now 16-9-0-1.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Portland, Cunningham 11 (Ross, Rutkowski), 16:57. 2, Seattle, Bobbee 5 (Gallimore, Lockhart), 19:51 (pp). Penalties – Aronson, Por (hooking), 14:39. Trott, Por (tripping), 19:14.

Second period – 3, Portland, Cunningham 12 (Rattie, Ross), 10:02. 4, Seattle, Doty 2 (Alos, Elliot), 12:59. 5, Seattle, Wells 10, 15:30. Penalties – Jordan, Por (major-fighting), 3:37. Doty, Sea (major-fighting), 3:37. Rutkowski, Por (cross checking), 10:02.

Third period – 6, Portland, Cunningham 13 (Ross, Rattie), 11:12. 7, Seattle, Lockhart 14 (Lund), 16:27. Penalties – Ramsay, Sea (major-fighting), 4:59. Jordan, Por (major-fighting), 4:59. Jordan, Por (interference, 10-minute misconduct), 13:29. Ross, Por (roughing), 17:21. Ramsay, Sea (roughing), 17:21. Rattie, Por (roughing), 18:19. Ross, Por (double minor-slashing, roughing), 19:49.

Shots on goal – Seattle 7-13-7 27. Portland 15-11-12 38. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 38 shots-35 saves (16-11-2-4); Portland, Carruth 27-23 (16-9-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Portland 0-0. A – 10,511. Referee – Jason Nissen, Steve Papp. Linesmen – Brian Fortin, Brock Gallien.