T-Birds Take Flight, Beat Chiefs 5-3
October 25, 2014 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - The Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Spokane Chiefs Friday night, winning 5-3 for their first home win of the season. The win makes Seattle 5-5-1-1 on the season, while Spokane drops to 5-3-3-0. Seattle is in fourth place in the U.S. Division, one point behind Spokane.
Taran Kozun made his 10th start of the season for Seattle. Kozun stopped 29 of 32 shots, getting his fifth win of the season to improve to 5-3-1-1. Garret Hughson started for Spokane and stopped 27 of 32. Hughson's loss makes his record 5-2-3-0.
The Chiefs scored the game's first goal at 10:19. Kozun was knocked down in the crease, only to have the puck work its way back behind the net. Jason Fram was able to get a shot off from the point as Kozun fought back into position. Fram's shot made it through a screen and into the back of the net for the opening goal. Curtis Miske had the only assist.
Seattle's second power play saw an excellent chance created by Mathew Barzal that unfortunately couldn't find a stick. Barzal skated to just behind the net before throwing a backhand pass through the skates of the defense and past the goalie. No one was able to knock it in from there, ending the home team's attack. Seattle took a penalty soon thereafter, making it four-on-four.
Hughson made a tremendous save on Seattle's third power play of the first period. A pass from beneath the faceoff circle made it to Ethan Bear on the other side of the net, who let loose with an immediate one-timer. Hughson was quick on his slide, however, and gloved the puck without consequence.
Shots in the first period were 14-8 Seattle while faceoffs were 10-9 Seattle.
Spokane took another penalty as the first period expired, putting the T-Birds up a man as the second began. Jerret Smith nearly scored 30 seconds in but his shot after deking past the defense and getting the goalie to the ground bounced off Hughson's leg. It was the first of Seattle's two shots on goal on the power play, the second coming on a point shot gloved by Hughson.
Barzal tied the game for the home team at 8:23. The initial shot from Scott Allan hit a defenseman and bounced directly to Barzal in the slot. Barzal let loose quickly and beat Hughson low to make it 1-1. Allan and Justin Hickman had the assists.
Smith beat Hughson with a point shot on Seattle's fifth power play to give the T-Birds their first lead of the night at 9:55. Barzal calmed down a bouncing puck that came to him off a deflected Hickman pass. The 17-year-old passed to Smith, whose shot made its way through plenty of traffic to make it 2-1. Barzal and Hickman had assists.
Seattle's third goal came at 13:09 on the power play. Smith took a shot from the point that bounced to the side of the net. Hickman was there and was able to backhand the puck off Hughson's pad into the net. Smith and Ethan Bear had the assists on the goal. It was Hickman's first goal of the season and gave him three points in the period. The goal made Seattle two for six on the night with the man advantage.
Kailer Yamamoto cut Spokane's deficit to one goal at 18:00. Yamamoto stole the puck from a scrum of players and had enough time to skate to the crease and flip a shot over Kozun's shoulder for the goal to make it 3-2. Adam Helewka and Calder Brooks had assists.
The Chiefs led in shots in the second period 10-7 while Seattle led in faceoffs 14-11.
The T-Birds struck quickly, scoring their fourth goal just 30 seconds into the third period. Barzal was able to keep the puck in the zone and skated below the crease. Once there, Barzal hit Hickman with the pass. The captain went top shelf and beat Hughson over the goalie's head for his second goal and fourth point of the game. Barzal had the only assist on the goal, his second of the game to go along with a goal.
Penalties put Seattle in a precarious position, with a slew of them resulting in 30 seconds of four-on-three time. The Chiefs capitalized, scoring at 9:35 to make it 4-3. Fram took the feed on the rush from Kailer Yamamoto and scored before Kozun could slide into position. Yamamoto and Liam Stewart had the assists. The goal was Fram's second of the game.
Still down a man for a minute, Seattle was forced onto the defensive. Several well-timed clearances, including one from Florian Baltram, kept the score where it was. Scott Eansor nearly had a breakaway as he left the penalty box but was unable to get his stick on the puck, resulting in an icing call. It was the T-Birds' fourth successful penalty kill of the night.
Eansor made it 5-3 with 4:28 left in the game for Seattle. Nolan Volcan managed to get the puck to the end boards and gain control. His pass out front went directly to Eansor's stick in the slot, where the center buried it. Volcan and Jared Hauf had the assists on the goal.
Spokane pulled their goalie with two minutes remaining as they tried to make up the two-goal deficit. While the Chiefs were able to create some offensive pressure, Seattle stood tall and kept the score where it was to secure the win.
Shots in the final period of play were 14-11 Spokane. Spokane also led in faceoffs 15-7.
Seattle takes to the road on Saturday when they face the Everett Silvertips at 7:05 pm. After that, the T-Birds will host the Edmonton Oil Kings on Thursday at 7:05 pm at the ShoWare Center.
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