T-Birds storm past Chiefs; Pickard makes 57 saves

Behind 57 saves from goalie Calvin Pickard and multi-point games from three different players, the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Spokane Chiefs 3-1 Feb. 13 at the ShoWare Center.

Spokane (34-16-4-2) took a 1-0 lead at 10:27 of the first period on Anthony Bardaro’s 12th goal of the season. There were no assists.

After one period, the Chiefs outshot the T-Birds 18-11 and held a 1-0 advantage.

Travis Toomey knotted the game for Seattle (20-28-4-5) at 15:09 of the second period on his 18th goal of the season. Defenseman Ryan Button controlled the puck at the Spokane blue line along the left boards and faked a slap shot before skating around a Spokane defender and into the left circle. He then fired a low wrist shot that was saved by Spokane goalie Mac Engel. The rebound bounced out to Toomey, who while being hounded by a Chiefs’ defender, was able to gain control of the puck, turn around, and fire a high wrist shot that barely snuck inside the cross-bar. Burke Gallimore had the second assist on the goal.

Seattle outshot Spokane 16-12 during the second period, but Spokane still held a 30-27 overall shot advantage through 40 minutes of play.

The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 1:57 of the third period on Colin Jacobs’ 18th goal of the season. Button, controlling the puck from the left point, fired a slap shot that was saved by Engel. After the initial save, Engel lost sight of the puck, which was laying just to his left. Brendan Rouse hustled to grab the loose puck, and sent a backhand pass behind the Spokane goalie to the front of the net. Jacobs was waiting in position and was able to jam the puck into an open net past a Spokane defender as well as Engel, who was still out of position after the initial shot.

With 12:04 remaining in the third period, the T-Birds were able to kill a 5-on-3 power-play that lasted 1:46 behind solid defensive efforts from both penalty-killing lines. The Chiefs hold the league’s best power-play unit, converting at a 25.9% success rate before this evening’s contest. Seattle head coach Rob Sumner described the penalty-kill as the “turning point of the game.”

Seattle sealed the game with 55.7 seconds left on an empty-net goal by Gallimore. Button made a pass to Rouse, who carried the puck across his own blue line and fed the puck to Gallimore. Before any Spokane defenders were able to converge on him, Gallimore fired a shot from center ice that found its way into the back of the Spokane net. The goal was Gallimore’s 27th of the season.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard (20-26-3-5) faced 58 shots and made 57 saves to earn his 20th victory of the season.

Spokane goalie Mac Engel (5-7-2-1) made 34 saves on 36 shots.

The T-Birds will head to Vancouver on Friday, February 18th to face the Giants at 7:30 p.m. They will return home next Sunday, February 20th, to host the Chilliwack Bruins in a game that could have major implications on the WHL Western Conference’s playoff picture.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Spokane, Bardaro 12, 10:27. Penalties – Vanscourt, Spo (delay of game), 2:22. Toomey, Sea (major-fighting), 15:32. Kramer, Spo (boarding – served by Holmberg, major-fighting), 15:32. Cowen, Spo (interference), 19:46.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Toomey 18 (Button, Gallimore), 15:09. Penalties – Uher, Spo (tripping), 4:23. Bonsor, Sea (high-sticking), 10:46. Hickman, Sea (major-fighting), 15:17. Miller, Spo (major-fighting), 15:17. Toomey, Sea (roughing), 16:20. Baldwin, Spo (high-sticking), 16:20. Kichton, Spo (hooking), 16:26. Valcourt, Spo (interference), 19:24.

Third period – 3, Seattle, Jacobs 18 (Rouse, Button), 1:57. 4, Seattle, Gallimore 27 (Rouse, Button), 19:04 (en). Penalties – Sutter, Sea (major-fighting), 5:56. Valcourt, Spo (major-fighting), 5:56. Bobbee, Sea (hooking), 7:42. Dillon, Sea (cross-checking), 7:56.

Shots on goal – Seattle 11-16-10 37. Spokane 18-12-28 48. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 58 shots-57 saves (20-26-3-5); Spokane, Engel 36-34 (5-7-2-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-6; Spokane 0-3. A – 2,538. Referee – Jeff Ingram, Sean Raphael. Linesmen – Clayton Richardson, Ron Dietterle.