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WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

Andrusiak Hat Trick Leads T-Birds to Comback Overtime Win

February 28, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENT - Zack Andrusiak capped a Seattle Thunderbirds comeback from a three-goal deficit Tuesday night at accesso ShoWare Center by scoring a power-play goal 34 seconds into overtime for a 5-4 T-Birds win over the Vancouver Giants.

Vancouver sent the puck out of play from their end to give the T-Birds a power play 18 seconds into overtime. Donovan Neuls had the puck at center ice inside the blue line. Neuls passed the puck to Andrusiak in the right circle. Andrusiak sent the puck low to Nolan Volcan who then skated around the right circle and up the right boards. Volcan curled into center ice and then passed the puck back to Andrusiak in the right circle. Andrusiak one-timed Volcan's pass beating Vancouver goalie David Tendeck over the left shoulder. The winning goal was Andrusiak's third of the game.

The T-Birds next game is Friday in Portland against the Winterhawks at 7pm. They then travel up to Everett to face the Silvertips on Saturday at 7:05pm. They are back home at accesso ShoWare Center on Sunday at 5:05pm to play the Winterhawks.

The T-Birds are in the second wild card playoff spot, five points behind the Tri-City Americans who are in the first wild card playoff spot. The T-Birds are eight points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers with two games in hand.

Seattle (29-24-7-2) took a 1-0 lead at 2:22 of the first period. Noah Philp intercepted a Vancouver pass in the defensive zone and created a three-on-two break. Philp crossed the Vancouver blue line on the left wing and dropped the puck to Turner Ottenbreit who had cut in behind Philp. Ottenbreit wound up for a slap shot from the left circle and hit Andrusiak at the back post. Tendeck went down thinking Ottenbreit was taking a slap shot. Andrusiak put the puck into a wide-open net for his 25th goal of the season.

Vancouver (32-21-6-3) tied the game 1-1 at 16:24 of the first on a goal from Tyler Popowich. Aidan Barfoot and Brayden Watts had the assists.

The Giants outshot the T-Birds 9-6 in the first period.

Vancouver took a 4-1 lead with three goals in 4:14 early in the second period. Tyler Benson scored a shorthanded goal at 2:41 followed by Ty Ronning on the power play at 6:01. James Malm scored at 6:55 to give the Giants a three-goal lead.

Nikita Malukhin cut the Giants lead to two goals at 13:57 of the second. Donovan Neuls had the puck in the right corner and sent it to Matthew Wedman behind the Vancouver net. Wedman came out at the left post and put the puck on goal with a shot between his legs. Wedman's shot rebounded off Tendeck right to Malukhin in the low slot. Malukhin put the puck over Tendeck for his fifth goal of the season.

Seattle outshot Vancouver 19-14 in the second period and led 25-23 in shots after two periods.

Andrusiak cut the Giants lead to one goal at 6:11 of the third period. Neuls skated the puck off the right boards into center ice. Neuls took a wrist shot with Andrusiak in front of Tendeck. Andrusiak tipped the puck over the goalie the goal. Philp had the second assist.

The T-Birds pulled goalie Liam Hughes with 1:15 left in the third period for an extra attacker and completed the comeback. Austin Strand took a wrist shot from the left point with Neuls and Volcan in front of Tendeck. Neuls took a swipe at the rebound and then Volcan lifted the puck over the goalie with 1:07 left in the game.

The T-Birds outshot the Giants 14-5 in the third period and 40-28 in the game.

Seattle goalie Liam Hughes had 24 saves on 28 shots and his record is now 11-10-4-1.

Tendeck had 35 saves on 40 shots and his record is 23-13-3-2.

T-Birds single game tickets for the 2017-18 season are currently on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period - 1, Seattle, Andrusiak 25 (Ottenbreit, Philp), 2:22. 2, Vancouver, Popowich 7 (Barfoot, Watts), 16:24. Penalties - Kannok Leipert, Van (hooking), 19:07.

Second period - 3, Vancouver, Benson 22 (Holt), 2:41 (sh). 4, Vancouver, Ronning 54 (Barberis, Benson), 6:01 (pp). 5, Vancouver, Malm 18 (Torzsok), 6:55. 6, Seattle, Malukhin 5 (Wedman, Neuls), 13:57. Penalties - Barberis, Van (delay of game), 1:17. Terretta, Sea (hooking), 4:31. Malm, Van (high-sticking), 9:39.

Third period - 7, Seattle, Andrusiak 26 (Neuls, Philp), 6:11. 8, Seattle, Volcan 27 (Neuls, Strand), 18:53. Penalties - No penalties.

Overtime - 9, Seattle, Andrusiak 27 (Volcan, Neuls), :34 (pp). Penalties - Barberis, Van (delay of game), :18.

Shots on goal - Seattle 6-19-14-1 40, Vancouver 9-14-5-0 28. Goalies - Seattle, Hughes 28 shots-24 saves (11-10-4-1); Vancouver, Tendeck 40-35 (23-13-3-2). Power plays - Seattle 1-4; Vancouver 1-1. A - 4,450. Referees - Trevor Nolan, Mark Pearce. Linesmen - Adam Brastad, Mark Heier.

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