T-Birds tame Bruins in shootout
Published on December 9, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Seattle, December 9, 2007 - Bud Holloway scored with 15 seconds left in regulation Sunday night at KeyArena against the Chilliwack Bruins and Greg Scott scored the shootout winner to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 4-3 shootout victory over the Bruins.
Seattle, down 3-2 late in the game, pulled goalie Riku Helenius with under a minute left and it paid off. David Richard took a point shot that rebounded to Holloway to the left of the goal. Holloway beat a lunging Esposito high to tie the game 3-3 and send the game to overtime. Lindsay Nielsen had the second assist on the goal.
The first two shootout shooters for each team, Holloway and Richard for Seattle, and Jadon Potter and Oscar Moller for Chilliwack, were denied in their attempts. Scott, the third Seattle shooter, got up a head of steam and came in on Esposito very fast. He faked a slap shot from the high slot, brought the puck onto his backhand and beat Esposito high for the game winning goal.
After Scott scored, Helenius stopped Nick Holden, the last Bruins shooter, to preserve the win.
The T-Birds have now won three games in a row and improve to 14-10-5-1 in the US Division. They are now tied with the Everett Silvertips for third in the division standings.
Chilliwack (17-13-3-1) took a 1-0 lead 1:10 into the first period on an unassisted goal by Dylan Chapman.
The T-Birds tied the game 1-1 when Greg Scott scored at 14:06 of the first. Scott had the puck behind the Chilliwack net and centered the puck to Brenden Dillon at the high point. Dillon put a wrist shot on goal that Bruins goalie Matt Esposito stopped. Bud Holloway got a stick on the rebound and the puck trickled behind Esposito. Scott came into the crease behind the goalie and put the puck into the net.
Seattle outshot Chilliwack 14-8 in the first period.
Mark Santorelli scored a power-play goal 32 seconds into the second period to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. Oscar Moller and Nick Holden had the assists.
The T-Birds tied the game 2-2 at 17:04 of the second on a power-play goal by Ian McKenzie. Jim O'Brien took a slap shot from the left point that rebounded to the left of the goal. Scott backhanded the puck to McKenzie in the crease and he tapped it past Esposito for his third goal in three games.
Seattle led 28-13 in shots after two periods by outshooting the Bruins 14-5 in the second.
Evan Pighin put the Bruins in front 3-2 at 11:18 of the third period. Mark Santorelli and Matt Meropoulis had the assists.
Seattle outshot Chilliwack 8-3 in the third period and led in shots 36-16 going into overtime.
Chilliwack outshot Seattle 3-1 in the overtime.
Helenius stopped 16 of 19 shots and his record improves to 8-7-5-0.
Esposito made 35 saves on 28 shots and his record is now 14-12-0-1.
The T-Birds next game is Friday, December 14, in Spokane at 7 p.m. against the Chiefs. They are back home on Saturday, December 15, to face the Swift Current Broncos at 7:05 p.m. at KeyArena.
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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