Thunderbirds
Game 17: Thunderbirds use the power play to defeat Raiders
(8-4-2-3) Seattle Thunderbirds 5,(6-10-2-2)Prince Albert Raiders 2
Birds score three power play goals…Jacobs with three points
PRINCE ALBERT– The Thunderbirds power play propelled them to a 5-2 victory in Prince Albert. Colin Jacobs and Luke Lockhart each had a goal and three points.
The Thunderbirds struck early when Jacobs (6) put a slap shot past Raiders goalie Eric Williams (3-4-1-1). The shot was taken from just inside the blue line. It came at the 1:15 mark and was assisted by Charles Wells and Lockhart. The teams would skate four on four when offsetting penalties were called against Travis Toomey and Andrew Herle at 3:44. At 7:30 the Raiders tied the game 1-1 when Mark McNeill (8) put one over the pad of Calvin Pickard (8-4-2-3). The Raiders took a 2-1 lead as the Birds could not clear the puck from inside the left circle and Sebastian Svendsen (11) shot one past Pickard. The goal came at 11:42. The Raiders would then go on the power play when Toomey was called for tripping at 11:54. Charles Wells (4) got the birds even at 2-2 when he scored a shorthanded goal at 12:28. Wells had a breakaway and cut across the slot to put one just inside the post. The goal was unassisted. It was the Birds first shorty of the season. Prince Albert went back to the power play at 17:32 when Austin Baecker was called for tripping. The Birds would kill off the power play and go into the first intermission tied 2-2. Shots were 12-10 in favor of the Raiders.
The Birds went on the power play for the first time at 5:36 of the second period when Justin Maylan was called for roughing. With seven seconds left on the man advantage the Raiders were assessed a double minor when Tyler Yaworski was called for high-sticking and unsportsmanlike conduct at 7:29. The Thunderbirds power play, which was ranked third in the league coming into the game went right back to work and Burke Gallimore (10) put one past Williams to get the Birds up 3-2. The goal was scored at 8:29 and was assisted by Brenden Dillon and Jacobs. On the second half of the four minute power play, Dillon (1) rocketed one by Williams to put the Birds up 4-2. The goal came at 10:00 and was assisted by Travis Bobbee and Lockhart. At 10:20 the Raiders Mike Winther was called for slashing and the Birds went back on the power play. Seattle scored their third power play goal in a row when Lockhart (9) knocked one in to put the Thunderbirds up 5-2. It was assisted by Gallimore and Jacobs.
At 13:11 Jacob Doty and Austin Connor dropped the gloves. Doty just had his nose cracked in the game against Moose Jaw but that didn’t seem to deter him at all. At 18:24 Jacobs was called for slashing putting the Raiders on the power play. The final 24 seconds would carry over into the third period as would the Birds 5-2 lead. The Birds had the shot advantage in the period 10-6 and in the game at 20-18.
At 5:59 of the third period the Birds went back to work on the power play when Herle was called for interference. The Raiders were finally able to kill one off and the game remained 5-2. The Raiders went on the power play at 11:38 as Dave Sutter was called for roughing. The Birds killed off the penalty and were doing as good a job of killing off time. With five minutes remaining they maintained a three goal edge and shots were even at 27.
The Birds would go on to defeat the Raiders 5-2 and improve to 2-1-0-1 on the road trip.
The Thunderbirds power play was simply outstanding and it really took control of the game in the second period. “It was the diffference,” said Rob Sumner . “Our penalty kill was good too. I was also happy with our five on five play.”
The Shorthanded goal by Wells was a big momentum changer as the Birds had just gone down 2-1 and were on the penalty kill. “It was a big goal, the timing of it was important.”
When asked if this was the most solid 60 minutes the team has put forth so far on the trip Sumner mostly agreed “I was very pleased with our performance tonight. I think we played a complete game.”
After losing in Brandon the Birds have won two in a row and have five of six points in the last three games. “So far we’ve played pretty well in a lot of the games. We’re going to try to improve our team and play well in these last couple of games.”
The Thunderbirds next game will be Friday night in Regina against the Pats. Game time is 5 pm.
Game Notes:
– D Erik Fleming remains out with an MCL sprain. D Scott Ramsay is out for personal reasons regarding his family.
– Seattle improved to 5-3-1-2 on the road.
– Attendance at the Art Houser Arena was announced as 2,068.
– The Thunderbirds are now ranked second in the WHL on the power play with a 27 % success rate.
Game Summary:
1st Period-1, Seattle, Jacobs 6 (Wells, Lockhart), 1:15. 2, Prince Albert, McNeill 8 (Maylan, Revenko), 7:30. 3, Prince Albert, Svendsen 11 (Parker, Herrod), 11:42. 4, Seattle, Wells 4 12:28 (SH). Penalties-Toomey Sea (elbowing), 3:44; Herle P.a (roughing), 3:44; Toomey Sea (tripping), 11:54; Baecker Sea (tripping), 17:32.
2nd Period-5, Seattle, Gallimore 10 (Dillon, Jacobs), 8:29 (PP). 6, Seattle, Dillon 1 (Bobbee, Lockhart), 10:00 (PP). 7, Seattle, Lockhart 9 (Gallimore, Jacobs), 11:16 (PP). Penalties-Maylan P.a (roughing), 5:36; Yaworski P.a (high sticking, unsportsmanlike cnd.), 7:29; Winther P.a (slashing), 10:20; Doty Sea (major-fighting), 13:11; Connor P.a (major-fighting), 13:11; Jacobs Sea (slashing), 18:24.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Herle P.a (interference), 5:59; Sutter Sea (roughing), 11:38.
Shots on Goal-Seattle 10-10-8-28. Prince Albert 12-6-11-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Seattle 3 / 5; Prince Albert 0 / 4.
Goalies-Seattle, Pickard 7-4-2-3 (29 shots-27 saves). Prince Albert, Williams 3-3-1-1 (28 shots-23 saves).
A-2,068
Referees-Adam Byblow (23).
Linesmen-Jarett Gelowitz (45), Bob Schrader (126).
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