T-Birds Power Past Pats
January 16, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - The Seattle Thunderbirds scored three power-play goals Friday night at ShoWare Center to secure a 4-2 win over the Regina Pats in front of 4,701 fans.
Ryan Gropp had two goals and an assist and Mathew Barzal had three assists in the game.
Goalie Landon Bow stopped 35 of 37 shots to get the win. Since being acquired from the Swift Current Broncos Bow has a 4-0-0-0 record in five games with a .960 save percentage, a 1.18 goals against average and one shutout.
The T-Birds play the Everett Silvertips Saturday at Xfinity Arena in Everett in a matchup of the first and second place teams in the US Division. The T-Birds are three points behind the first place Silvertips.
Seattle (24-15-3-0) jumped on the Pats 1:58 into the first period with a power-play goal. Mathew Barzal carried the puck up the left wing into Pats zone. Barzal passed the puck through a defenseman's legs to Ryan Gropp in the left circle. Gropp faked a shot and passed the puck across the slot to Keegan Kolesar forcing Regina goalie Jordan Hollett down. Kolesar had the whole net to shoot and got his 19th goal of the season.
The T-Birds had a good forecheck in the first period and outshot the Pats 11-5 in the period.
Regina (19-20-3-3) tied the game 1-1 at 3:56 of the second period on a goal from Luc Smith. Smith put back a rebound from a Liam Schioler point shot. Rykr Cole had the second assist.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead on power-play goal from Gropp at 9:17 of the second. Barzal held the puck along the right boards and then fired it to Alexander True with his back to Hollett. True turned with the puck and got a shot off that Hollett kicked out of the crease. Gropp raced down from the top of the left circle to slam the puck past the goalie.
Gropp struck on the power play for a second time with 43 seconds left in the second period. True moved the puck from behind the Pats net to Barzal on the right boards. Barzal skated up the wall, walked the blue line and made a saucer pass to Gropp in the left circle. Gropp skated towards Hollett and beat the goalie with a hard wrist shot.
Regina outshot Seattle 15-8 in the second period and led 20-19 in shots after two periods.
The T-Birds made it a 4-1 lead at 6:45 of the third period. Ethan Bear took a slap shot with Donovan Neuls between the circles. Neuls knocked down Bear's shot and it went under Hollett. Turner Ottenbreit had the second assist on Neuls fifth goal of the season.
Regina replaced Hollett with Tyler Brown in net after the fourth Seattle goal. Hollett made 16 saves on 20 shots and his record falls to 7-5-1-0.
Sean Richards scored for Regina at 10:48 of the third to cut the T-Birds lead to two goals. Chase Harrison had the only assist on the goal.
Regina outshot Seattle 17-7 in the third period and 37-26 in the game.
Brown made six saves in 13 minutes of action.
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.
T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2016
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- Prince Albert earns five out of possible six points on road trip - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen win in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Burman Backstops Broncos to 2-1 Win - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Lose in Overtime to Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Come Back to Beat Giants - Vancouver Giants
- Game Notes: Red Deer Rolls into Town - Swift Current Broncos
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, January 16 vs Edmonton at 6:00 p.m. - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Host Warriors Tonight - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Sweet Revenge for Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Silvertips Edge Giants 3-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Canes Power Play Downs Blazers - Kamloops Blazers
- 3rd Period Comeback Falls Short against Americans - Saskatoon Blades
- Royals Edge Rockets 4-3 Friday Night in Victoria - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Knock off Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Game 44: January 16 Vs. Kootenay - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Victoria wins over Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Power Past Pats - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Americans Hold off Blades 4-3 - Tri-City Americans
- Pats lose 4-2 - Regina Pats
- Giants Fall to Everett - Vancouver Giants
- Rebels Blanked 4-0 in Brandon - Red Deer Rebels
- Chiefs Fall Short on Friday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Schneider Brilliant in Shootout Victory - Medicine Hat Tigers
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