Winterhawks Down T-Birds in Annual New Year's Eve Game
January 1, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
PORTLAND - The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-3 Monday night at the Moda Center in Portland.
This was the 28th time the T-Birds and Winterhawks have played on New Year's Eve. The T-Birds are 12-15-1-0 in this annual game.
Zack Andrusiak had two goals in the game and has scored six goals in the last two games. He scored four times against Portland on December 29 at accesso ShoWare Center in an 8-6 loss.
The T-Birds start a six-game road trip to the East Division on Friday, January 4, against the Brandon Wheat Kings at 5:30pm. They will play the Regina Pats on Sunday, January 6, at 2pm in the second game of the road trip. The road trip continues against the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday, January 8, and the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday, January 9. The last two games on the road trip are Friday, January 11, against the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saturday, January 12 against the Swift Current Broncos.
Seattle (11-18-4-0) took a 1-0 lead at 10:47 of the first period on Andrusiak's 26th goal of the season. Jared Davidson knocked the puck off a Portland forward's stick in the high slot of the Portland zone. Davidson chased the puck into the left corner and then found Andrusiak all alone in front of Portland goalie Shane Farkas. Andrusiak took a shot that Farkas stopped but the Zack chipped the rebound over the goalie's right pad.
Portland (21-11-3-2) tied the game 1-1 on a five-on-three power-play goal by Ryan Hughes at 12:4 of the first period. Joachim Blichfeld and Jared Freadrich had the assists.
Andrusiak put the T-Birds back in front at 14:57 of the first. Payton Mount sprung Noah Philp on a breakaway down the right wing. In the low right circle Philp neatly crossed the puck to Andrusiak just trailing the play. Andrusiak roofed the puck over Farkas as he sprawled to make the save.
Jaxan Kaluski made it a 3-1 lead at 19:14 of the first with a power-play goal. Simon Kubicek took a slap shot from the right point that rebounded to the right of Farkas. Tyler Carpendale got a stick on the puck before Kaluski popped it past the goalie for his third goal of the year.
Both teams had 13 shots on goal in the first period.
Portland cut the T-Birds lead to one goal 39 seconds into the second period on a goal by Blichfeld. Nick Cicek and Hughes had the assists.
Blichfeld scored a power-play goal at 5:04 of the second to tie the game 3-3. Hughes and Freadrich had the assists.
Portland took a 5-3 lead on a goal by Michal Kvasnica at 8:56 and a five-on-three power-play goal by Freadrich at 16:09.
Portland had a 33-20 advantage in shots after two periods by outshooting the T-Birds 20-7 in the second period.
The Winterhawks took a 6-3 lead on a goal by Seth Jarvis at 8:04 of the third period.
Seattle goalie Liam Hughes had 39 saves on 45 shots.
Farkas made 39 saves on 45 shots.
The T-Birds next home game is Saturday, January 19, against the Victoria Royals at 6:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
The T-Birds are now taking orders for Flex-24 Ticket packages. Fans that purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Seattle, Andrusiak 26 (Davidson), 10:47. 2, Portland, Hughes 17 (Blichfeld, Freadrich), 12:40 (pp). 3, Seattle, Andrusiak 27 (Philp, Mount), 14:57. 4, Seattle, Kaluski 3 (Carpendale, Kubicek), 19:14 (pp). Penalties - Newkirk, Por (roughing), 5:23. Wedman, Sea (roughing), 5:23. Kubicek, Sea (tripping), 10:59. Lee, Sea (interference), 11:40. Mannek, Por (slashing), 17:31.
Second period - 5, Portland, Blichfeld 33 (Cicek, Hughes), :39. 6, Portland, Blichfeld 34 (Hughes, Freadrich), 5:59 (pp). 7, Portland, Kvasnica 5 (Gilliss, Cicek), 8:56. 8, Portland, Freadrich 5 (Hughes, Newkirk), 16:09 (pp). Penalties - Mannek, Por (closing hand on puck), 2:38. Harsch, Sea (cross checking), 5:04. Nolan, Por (cross checking), 10:41. McNelly, Por (major-cross checking, major-fighting, game misconduct), 13:28. Gilliss, Por (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting), 13:28. Harsch, Sea (tripping), 15:01. Perna, Por (roughing), 18:42.
Third period - 9, Portland, Jarvis 8 (Hanus, Newkirk), 8:03. Penalties - Fromm-Delorme, Por (hooking), 2:07. Newkirk, Por (holding), 4:54. Wedman, Sea (major-kneeing, game misconduct), 8:55. Lee, Sea (major-fighting), 18:42. Jarvis, Por (major-fighting), 18:42. Davidson, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 18:42. Cicek, Por (10-minute misconduct), 18:42. Delorme, Por (interference), 19:08.
Shots on goal - Seattle 13-7-14 35, Portland 13-20-10 45. Goalies - Seattle, Hughes 45 shots-39 saves (10-16-3-0); Portland, Farkas 35-32 (20-9-3-2). Power plays - Seattle 1-7; Portland 3-6. A - 10,282. Referees - Michael McGowan, Bradley Parker. Linesmen - Adam Griffiths, Mark Pearce.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2019
- Pats Stopped by Raiders to Open 2019 - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Acquire Keltie Jeri-Leon, Michael Horon and Draft Pick from Hurricanes - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hurricanes Acquire Hughes from Thunderbirds - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Blades Defeat Broncos in New Years Day Matinee - Swift Current Broncos
- Blades Open 2019 with a Bang - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Fall 3-1 in Edmonton to Kick off 2019 - Vancouver Giants
- Raiders Open 2019 With A Win In Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Power past Royals, 6-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Tripped up by Hitmen - Victoria Royals
- No Time Like the Present for the Rebels to Get Back in Gear - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Acquire 27-Goal Scorer and Left Wing Zack Andrusiak from the Seattle Thunderbirds - Everett Silvertips
- T-Birds Acquire Sean Richards, Prospect Forward, and 3 Draft Picks from Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- T-Birds Sign Goalie Roddy Ross - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Preview: Blades Host Broncos in New Year's Matinee - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, January 1 vs. Victoria - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Kick off 2019 at Home to Prince Albert New Years Day - Regina Pats
- Hawks Ring in 2019 with a Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Ams Ring in New Year with Dominate 6-1 Win over Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Winterhawks Down T-Birds in Annual New Year's Eve Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Jesse Makaj Named December's Player of the Month Presented by Jewels on Ninth - Kootenay Ice
- Penny Coyle Named December's Community Member of the Month Presented by Spring Honda - Kootenay Ice
- Royals Ring in New Year with OT Victory over ICE - Kootenay Ice
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