WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds cut down Blades

Published on October 27, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Seattle, October 26, 2007 - Prab Rai had three assists and Josh Lazowski scored his first career WHL goal Friday night to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades in front of 3,195 at KeyArena.

The T-Birds improved their record to 6-1-2-1 in the US Division. They face the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday night in Spokane at 7 p.m. before returning home to Seattle to take on the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. at KeyArena. Lazowski put the T-Birds up 1-0 at 3:01 of the first period with his first career WHL goal. Rai took a face off in the left circle in the Saskatoon zone. Rai won the face off to himself and got a shot on goal. Saskatoon goalie Braden Holtby made the save but the rebound lay in the crease. Lazowski was crashing the net and poked the puck past Holtby for the goal.

Lazowski's goal came on his first shift on KeyArena ice. He had missed the previous six games with a shoulder injury and had not played in a home game.

Saskatoon (3-10-1-0) tied the game 1-1 on a power- play goal by Colton Gillies at 11:07 of the first. Chris Durand and Ondrej Fiala had the assists.

Seattle outshot Saskatoon 12-11 in the first period.

Jim O'Brien put the T-Birds up 2-1 at 4:33 of the second period just after a Seattle power play ended. Bud Holloway came around the Saskatoon net on the left side and made a crisp centering pass to O'Brien coming down the slot. O'Brien one-timed the pass past Holtby high on the glove side for his second goal of the year.

Lindsay Nielsen scored an unassisted goal at 5:37 of the second to put the T-Birds up 3-1. The puck was in the right corner where a T-Bird and Blade were fighting for it. The puck squirted out and was heading behind the Saskatoon goal but hit the referee in the skate and was redirected into the slot to Nielsen. Holtby thought the puck was going behind the net and Nielsen put a backhand shot into an empty net for his second goal of the year.

Greg Scott scored a power-play goal from the left circle at 7:53 of the second to give the T-Birds a 4-1 lead. Scott beat Holtby with a wrist shot high on the blocker side on assists from Rai and Thomas Hickey. With the assist Hickey extended his point streak to 10 games.

Rai and Isak Quakenbush teamed up at 19:30 of the second to put the T-Birds up 5-1. They were both fighting for the puck in the left corner. Rai brought the puck behind the Blades net while Quakenbush went to the front of the net. Rai passed the puck to Quakenbush and he beat Holtby from the just outside the crease high on the blocker side.

The T-Birds outshot the Blades 14-12 in the second period and led 26-23 in total shots after two periods.

The Blades outshot the T-Birds 7-5 in the third period but the T-Birds finished with a 31-30 advantage overall.

Seattle goalie Riku Helenius made 29 saves on 30 shots and his record improves to 5-1-2-0.

Holtby stopped 26 of 31 shots and his record falls to 3- 8-0-0.

Season tickets are currently on sale for 2007-08 at KeyArena. Fans purchasing 2007-08 season tickets will have the highest seating priority for the 2008-09 season as the Thunderbirds open the new Kent Events Center. Priority can be established right now by calling 206-448-PUCK (7825) or for more information go to www.seattlethunderbirds.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2007


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