T-Birds Grind out Win against Blazers
February 29, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KAMLOOPS, BC - The Seattle Thunderbirds and Kamloops Blazers were each playing their third game in as many nights Sunday at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Both teams won their first two games on the weekend coming into Sunday's night game. It was a tight checking contest Sunday with both teams playing physical and regularly blocking shots.
The T-Birds came back from a one-goal deficit in the second period and Mathew Barzal scored the game winner with 2:02 left in the game to get the T-Birds a 4-3 win over the Blazers.
The T-Birds, winners of four in a row and eight of their last nine, are now 36-23-3-0, three points behind the Everett Silvertips for first place in the US Division. The Silvertips defeated the Tri-City Americans 3-2 Sunday night. The T-Birds and Silvertips will meet two more times this season, next Friday in Everett and March 11 at ShoWare Center. The T-Birds also have a game in hand on the Silvertips.
The T-Birds next game is against the Tri-City Americans on Tuesday at 7:05pm at ShoWare Center.
Seattle goalie Logan Flodell was solid in net making 32 saves on 35 shots to get his 20th win of the season. His record is now 20-13-3-0.
The T-Birds won all four games against the Blazers this season.
Kamloops (29-25-5-4) took a 1-0 lead at 13:12 of the first period on a power-play goal from Gage Quinney. Matt Revel and Ryan Rehill had the assists.
The Blazers outshot the T-Birds 11-10 in the first period.
Seattle tied the game 1-1 at 4:17 of the second period on a power-play goal from Bryan Allbee. Allbee took a wrist shot with Scott Eansor and Nolan Volcan screening Kamloops goalie Connor Ingram. Allbee's shot beat Ingram low for his sixth goal of the season. Donovan Neuls and Eansor had the assists.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 8:17 of the second with a second power-play goal. Neuls won a faceoff in the left circle back to Turner Ottenbreit at the left point. Ottenbreit skated to his right and then put a slap shot on goal with Volcan in front of Ingram. Volcan tipped Ottenbreit's shot past Ingram for his 12th goal of the season.
The Blazers tied the game 2-2 at 13:53 of the second on a power-play goal from Ryan Rehill. Matt Needham and Collin Shirley had the assists.
The T-Birds answered back 26 seconds after Kamloops second goal. Barzal had the puck along the left boards. Barzal crossed the puck to Allbee at the right point. Allbee took a slap shot with traffic in front of Ingram and found the net for his second goal of the night. Nick Holowko had the second assist on the goal.
Kamloops led 24-18 in shots after two periods by outshooting Seattle 13-8 in the period.
The T-Birds were called for a roughing penalty at 12:59 of the third, which was followed by an unsportsmanlike penalty call, to give the Blazers a five-on-three power play. The Blazers converted when Dawson Davidson banged in loose puck at 13:30 of the third period. Revel and Jake Kryski had the assists. The T-Birds were able to kill off the second penalty to keep the game tied 3-3.
The T-Birds took a 4-3 lead with 2:02 left in the game. Jared Hauf kept the puck from going out of the zone on the left side. Hauf sent the puck low to Barzal who then passed it to Nick Holowko in the slot. Holowko took a shot that Ingram kicked out right to Barzal in the low left circle. Barzal put the puck high past Ingram for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
The T-Birds got a power play with under two minutes left but then were called for hooking with 41 seconds left in the game. The Blazers pulled Ingram for a five-on-four power play to try and tie the game. The final horn sounded as a scramble was underway in front of Flodell.
The Blazers outshot the T-Birds 11-9 in the third period and 35-27 in the game.
Ingram made 23 saves on 27shots and his record is now 26-15-4-3.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2015-16 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm Saturday game days at 10 am and Sunday game days at noon.
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- Blazers Fall 4-3 to T-Birds - Kamloops Blazers
- T-Birds Grind out Win against Blazers - Seattle Thunderbirds
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