Goalie Calvin Pickard made 35 saves on 36 shots Saturday night in front of 4,771 at ShoWare Center to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
The T-Birds record is now 23-26-1-3 and they remain one point behind the Everett Silvertips for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff standings. They are five points behind the Kamloops Blazers for fifth in the conference standings and have one game in hand on the Blazers.
The T-Birds took a 1-0 lead at 15:21 of the first period on a power-play goal by Jonathan Parker. Parker slammed a rebound past Kelowna goalie Mark Guggenberger off of a Jim O’Brien shot. Thomas Hickey had the second assist on the goal.
Kelowna (29-19-1-2) outshot Seattle 11-6 in the first period.
Jamie Benn scored at 16:57 of the second period to tie the game 1-1. Mitchell Callahan and Cody Almond had assists on the goal.
The Rocket outshot the T-Birds 14-5 in the second period and led 25-11 in total shots after two periods.
Kelowna outshot Seattle 8-6 in a scoreless third period.
The T-Birds won the game at 3:39 of overtime on Jim O’Brien’s 18th goal of the year. Hickey controlled the puck facing the right boards in the Kelowna zone. He passed the puck between his legs to Brad Haber just inside the blue line at center ice. Haber faked a shot and skated around a Rockets defender into the left circle while O’Brien skated to the front of the Kelowna net. Haber put a quick wrist shot on goal that O’Brien deflected past Guggenberger for the game winner.
Kelowna outshot Seattle 3-1 in overtime and 36-18 in the game.
Pickard improved his record to 12-10-1-3.
Guggenberger made 16 saves on 18 shots and his record is now 16-13-1-1.
The T-Birds next game is Friday, February 6, at 7:35 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and ShoWare Center.
T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Parker 11 (O’Brien, Hickey), 15:21 (pp). Penalties – Benn, Kel (high-sticking), 12:30. Bench, Kel (too many men- served by Main), 15:01. Gogol, Kel (roughing), 15:57. O’Brien, Sea (holding), 19:19.
Second period – 2, Kelowna, Benn 31 (Callahan, Almond), 16:57. Penalties – Benn, Kel (goaltender interference), :43. Parker, Sea (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 11:38. L. Bloodoff, Kel ( major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 11:38.
Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Lund, Sea (major-fighting), 2:28. Gogol, Kel (major-fighting), 2:28. Callahan, Kel (major-fighting), 6:41. Silvester, Sea (major-fighting), 6:41.
Overtime – 3, Seattle, O’Brien 18 (Haber, Hickey), 3:39. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 6-5-6-1 18. Kelowna 11-14-8-3 36. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 36 shots-35 saves (12-10-1-3); Kelowna, Guggenberger 18-16 (16-13-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Kelowna 0-2. A – 4,771. Referee – Derek Herman. Linesmen – Chris Dehaan, Nathan Van Oosten.
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