Toth’s save helps T-Birds edge Chiefs in WHL

For the Reporter

Seattle goalie Rylan Toth didn’t receive an assist on the scoresheet for the Thunderbirds’ winning goal in overtime against the Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday night, but he is the reason they prevailed, 3-2.

Toth stopped a two-on-none Chiefs breakaway and Austin Strand scored the winning goal off a rebound in Western Hockey League play at Veterans Memorial Arena.

The T-Birds (26-15-3-1) have won eight of their last nine games and have three games coming up this weekend. They travel to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Friday, then host the Everett Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at the ShoWare Center. The Americans travel to Kent for a 5:05 p.m. game Sunday.

Against the Chiefs, Toth saved the day. He came out of his crease and poke-checked the puck away from a Chiefs forward. Strand found the loose puck in the slot and headed up ice on a two-on-one break, passing to Sami Moilanen who carried it into the Spokane zone on the left wing. Moilanen passed the puck to Keegan Kolesar in the slot and Kolesar deked around a defenseman and took a shot. Spokane goalie Dawson Weatherill made the save, but Strand banged in the rebound for the winning goal.

Toth finished the game with 35 saves on 37 shots and his record is now 22-15-1-0.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead on the power play at 7:34 of the second period. Mathew Barzal won a faceoff in the right circle back to Ethan Bear at the right point. Bear took a slap shot that Alexander True tipped past Weatherill.

The T-Birds made it a 2-0 lead at 14:24 of the second on Strand’s first goal of the night. Barzal worked the puck off the right boards to Strand at the right point. Strand skated to the top of the right circle and took a wrist shot that beat Weatherill on the glove side.

Spokane (20-20-6-2) cut the T-Birds lead to one goal at 5:31 of the third period on a goal from Eli Zummack. The Chiefs tied the game 2-2 at 9:11 of the third on a goal from Alex Mowbray.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Kolesar), :50. McIndoe, Spo (boarding), 8:57. Strand, Sea (delay of game), 11:46.

Second period – 1, Seattle, True 15 (Bear, Barzal), 7:34 (pp). 2, Seattle, Strand 3 (Barzal), 14:24. Penalties – Elynuik, Spo (high sticking), 7:28. Strand, Sea (cross checking), 8:51. Volcan, Sea (interference), 9:59.

Third period – 3, Spokane, Zummack 5 (McIndoe, Reid), 5:31. 4, Spokane, Mowbray 1 (McKay, Reid), 9:11. Penalties – Helgesen, Spo (hooking), 16:10. Elynuik, Spo (face off violation), 16:13.

Overtime – 5, Seattle, Strand 4 (Kolesar, Moilanen), 3:48. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 8-9-11-6 34, Spokane 8-9-15-5 37. Goalies – Seattle, Toth 37 shots-35 saves (22-15-1-0); Spokane, Weatherill, 34-31 (8-11-4-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Spokane 0-4. A – 3,237. Referees – Bryan Bourdon, Nick Swaine. Linesmen – Jeremi Del Campo, Steve Fleming.