Pickard Back Stops T-Birds To Win Over Chiefs
February 21, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Kent, February 20, 2009 - Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard stopped all 36 shots he faced Friday night at ShoWare Center to lead the T-Birds to a 3-0 shutout of the Spokane Chiefs.
Pickard made 14 saves in the first period, nine saves in the second period and 13 saves in the third period to get his second shutout of the season and improve his record to 17-13-1-3.
The T-Birds moved into sixth place in the Western Conference playoff standings with the win. They are one point behind the Kamloops Blazers for fifth in the standings with one game in hand. They are one point ahead of the Everett Silvertips. The T-Birds travel to Portland to take on the Winter Hawks on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum. They are back home at ShoWare Center on Sunday to face the Vancouver Giants at 5:05 p.m.
Spokane (39-17-0-3) outshot Seattle 14-11 in the first period.
The T-Birds took a 1-0 lead at 13:58 of the second period on a goal by Sena Acolatse. Jeremy Boyer sent the puck from the left side around the Chiefs net. Acolatse got to the puck on the right side at the bottom of the face-off circle, turned and put the puck on net with Boyer was standing in front of Spokane goalie Dustin Tokarski. Acolatse's shot beat Tokarski high on the stick side.
Seattle (28-29-1-3) outshot Spokane 12-9 in the second period.
Jim O'Brien put the T-Birds in front 2-0 at 9:02 of the third period. Stefan Warg worked the puck up ice from the Seattle zone. At the red line Warg fed the puck to Chris Cloud coming down the ride side. Cloud then centered the puck to O'Brien in the high slot. O'Brien cradled the puck and then put a slap shot on goal. O'Brien's shot beat Tokarski through the legs for his 21st goal of the year.
Jonathan Parker sealed the win for the T-Birds when he scored an empty-net goal at 19:08 of the third. Greg Scott worked the puck loose of the boards just inside the Spokane zone. Scott pushed the puck to Parker who put a quick wrist shot on goal to get his 12th win of the year.
Spokane outshot Seattle 13-6 in the third period and 36-29 in the game.
Tokarski stopped 26 of 28 shots and his record is now 29-12-0-2.
T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
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