Seven T-Birds get goals in 7-1 victory over Portland
December 9, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Thunderbirds scored a season high seven goals Saturday night in front of 4,605 at KeyArena for a 7-1 victory over the Portland Winter Hawks.
Seven different T-Birds scored a goal in the win which improved the T-Birds record to 13-10-5-1 in the US Division. They are now two points behind the Everett Silvertips for third in the division with three games in hand.
Seattle faces the Chilliwack Bruins on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. to finish out the weekend. Ian McKenzie put the T-Birds up 1-0 at 2:23 of the first period. Jeremy Boyer chased a puck into the Portland zone along the left boards. He tied up a Winter Hawks defender and David Richard came in behind him and scooped up the loose puck. Richard cut into the left circle with the puck and then fed McKenzie in the slot. McKenzie beat Portland goalie Kurtis Mucha stick side under his arm.
Portland (5-25-0-0) tied the game 1-1 at 10:15 of the first on a goal by Travis Ehrhardt. Tristan King and Luke Walker had the assists.
Seattle went in front 2-1 at 11:12 of the first when Lindsay Nielsen scored into an empty net. Jim O'Brien controlled the puck in the neutral zone and then passed to Greg Scott just in front of the blue line on the left side. Scott carried the puck into the Portland zone, and with O'Brien crashing the net, put a shot on goal. Mucha made the stop but the puck rebounded to the bottom of the right circle. Mucha came out of the crease and tried to poke the puck to the boards but Nielsen stole the puck, circled into the slot and put the puck into the empty net.
Bud Holloway gave the T-Bird a 3-1 lead with a power-play goal at 14:18 of the first. Richard passed the puck from the right point to Prab Rai at the left point. Rai fed it down low to Holloway in the left circle. Holloway beat Mucha through the pads for his 12th goal of the year. Seattle took a 4-1 lead into first intermission when Richard scored with just under a minute left in the period. Steve Chaffin dumped the puck into Portland zone and Josh Schappert chased the puck down behind the Winter Hawks net. Schappert came out from behind the Portland goal on the left side and fed Richard in the left circle. Richard beat Mucha five-hole for his third goal of the year.
Both teams had 10 shots on goal in the first period.
Jordan White replaced Mucha in net for Portland to start the second period. Mucha stopped 6 of shots in the first period.
Seattle picked up in the second period right where they left off in the first period. O'Brien scored 29 seconds into the period to give the T-Birds a 5-1 lead. O'Brien came down the right wing and beat White with a slap shot over the glove from just above the right face-off dot. Rai and Brenden Dillon had the assists on O'Brien's fourth goal of the year.
Dillon scored his first WHL goal, a power-play goal, at 1:48 of the second to make it a 6-1 lead for Seattle. Jeremy Boyer won a face in the left circle through his legs. McKenzie came in from the left wing and poked the puck to Dillon at the left point. Dillon stickhandled to along the blue line to center ice and put a slap shot on goal. Dillon's shot beat White high on the glove side.
Rai put the T-Birds up 7-1 at 18:18 of the second with his first goal of the year. Acolatse had the puck behind the Seattle net. He brought the puck out on the left side and hit Jan Eberle at the hash marks along the boards. Eberle passed the puck to Rai off the boards and the centerman used his great speed to skate up ice on a 2-on-1 break with O'Brien on his right. Rai put a wrist shot on goal from the left face-off dot that beat White over the glove. Seattle outshot Portland 16-3 in the second period and led 26-13 in total shots after two periods.
Portland outshot Seattle 12-11 in the scoreless third period.
Seattle goalie Jacob DeSerres made 24 saves on 25 shots and his record improves to 6-3-0-1.
White stopped 24 of 27 shots. Mucha was credited with the loss and his record is now 4-15-0-0.
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.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2007
- T-Birds tame Bruins in shootout - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings Remind Season Ticket Holders Of Rain Check Policy - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Ams Take 4-1 Decision On Teddy Bear Night - Kamloops Blazers
- Tri-City Returns to Winning Ways; Douse Blazers 4-1 - Tri-City Americans
- Spokane defeats Swift Current - Spokane Chiefs
- Seven T-Birds get goals in 7-1 victory over Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Overpower Bruins 5-2 - Chilliwack Bruins
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