Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Jacob DeSerres made 33 saves on 34 shots to lead his team to a 3-1 victory over the Kamloops Blazers Sunday night at ShoWare Center.
DeSerres stopped 17 shots in the third period, many from in close, to keep the T-Birds in the game.
This was the second game in the T-Birds’ new home, ShoWare Center. They defeated the Everett Silvertips 4-3 Saturday night in the first game. (See related story on this Web site.)
The Blazers outshot the T-Birds 5-3 in the first period.
Seattle (17-20-1-2) took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Luke Lockhart at 10:42 of the second period. Jonathan Parker had the puck in the left corner. He centered the puck to Greg Scott in the high slot. Scott put a slap shot on goal that Kamloops goalie Jon Groenheyde stopped. The puck rebounded to the left of the goal to Lockhart. Lockhart quickly hit the puck and it sneaked through Groenheyde and slid across the goal line.
Kamloops (17-21-1-4) tied the game 1-1 at 15:15 of the second on a goal by CJ Stretch. Jimmy Bubnick and Shayne Wiebe had the assists.
The T-Birds went back in front at 18:30 of the second on an unassisted goal by Scott. Scott put a wrist shot on goal from along the right boards with Prab Rai stationed in front of Groenheyde. Rai screened the goalie and Scott’s shot beat him low on the stick side.
Both teams had nine shots on goal in the second period and Kamloops led 14-12 in total shots going into the second intermission.
Jeremy Boyer added an insurance goal with an empty-net goal at 18:40 in the third period. Chris Cloud and Jeremy Schappert had the assists on the goal.
The Blazers outshot the T-Birds 20-5 in the third period and 34-17 in the game.
DeSerres improved his record to 7-11-0-0 on the season.
Groenheyde made 14 saves on 16 shots and his record is now 3-6-0-1.
Seattle next plays Jan. 7, when they travel to Kelowna to take on the Rockets. Their next game at the ShoWare Center is Jan. 9, at 7:35 p.m. against the Tri-City Americans.
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 – No scoring. Penalties – Rodgers, Kam (tripping), :49.
Second period – 1, Seattle, Lockhart 3 (Scott, Parker), 10:42 (pp). 2, Kamloops, Stretch 15 (Bubnick, Wiebe), 15:15. 3, Seattle, Scott 12, 18:30. Penalties – Bubnick, Kam (high-sticking), 1:42. Cloud, Sea (major-fighting), 5:04. Underwood, Kam (major-fighting), 5:04. Lyon, Kam (elbowing), 10:24.
Third period – 4, Seattle, Boyer 9 (Cloud, Schappert), 18:40 (en). Penalties – Dillon, Sea (roughing), 8:40.
Shots on goal – Seattle 3-9-5 17. Kamloops 5- 9-17 34. Goalies – Seattle, DeSerres 34 shots-33 saves (7-11-0-0); Kamloops, Groenheyde 16-14 (3-6-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Kamloops 0-1. A – 3,265. Referee – Matt Kirk. Linesmen – Chris Dehaan, Kevin Boris.
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