Thunderbirds
Game 14: Thunderbirds drop a tight one in Brandon
(8-10-0-1)Brandon Wheat Kings 3, (6-4-2-2)Seattle Thunderbirds 2
Doty scores first WHL goal…Birds drop first game on road trip
BRANDON–The Thunderbirds began their six games in eight days road trip in Manitoba against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The long ride (about 36 hrs in total with stops) may have reared its head early on in this one as the Birds allow 21 shots (and several quality scoring chances) in the first period. The bad start, along with a controversial goal, may have cost them the game.
Colin Jacobs took the first penalty of the game at 6:06 putting Brandon on the power play. They did not convert. At 12:09 it was Jacob Doty with his first ever WHL goal to put the Birds up 1-0. The assist was from Scott Ramsay. The Birds held the lead until the 19:16 mark when Brandon’s Michael Ferland (2) got the Wheat Kings even with an assist from Scott Glennie. The game would go into the first intermission tied 1-1. The Birds were out shot 21-10 with Calvin Pickard (6-4-2-2) making several nice saves. As was the case in the last game against Red Deer, the Birds were a little sloppy in the neutral zone, something they have admitted is a bit of an issue lately.
A good start to the second period for Seattle as they were out shooting Brandon 6-2 in the early going. At 10:41 the Wheat Kings scored a controversial goal as the puck had apparently been kicked in but after video review (the third of the game) it was deemed a good goal much to the dismay of Rob Sumner. Brenden Walker (8) was credited with the goal that put Brandon up 2-1. The Wheat Kings went on the power play for the second time at 12:34 when Mitch Elliot was called for high sticking. Seattle effectively killed off the penalty.
The Birds had a much better second period with several good scoring chances and could not get one past Brandon goalie Liam Liston (5-4-0-1).The only goal in the period would be Walker’s contested shot. So the Thunderbirds went into the third period down 2-1. Shots were 12-5 in favor of the Birds. Seattle did not have a power play through the first 40 minutes.
Brandon took a 3-1 lead at the 2:49 mark of the second period as Mark Stone (12) got to a loose puck that was given up by Austin Frank. The Thunderbirds picked up their first power play opportunity of the game just a few seconds after Brandon’s go ahead goal and Luke Lockhart netted his fifth goal of the season to get the Birds back to within one at 3-2. The power play goal was assisted by Burke Gallimore and Jacobs.
Jacobs was called for his second penalty of the game (hooking) to put the Wheat Kings on the power play at 4:02. The penalty was killed off to make Brandon 0 for 3 on the power play. At 18:54 the Thunderbirds went on the power play just as Pickard was heading towards the bench for the extra skater. Seattle had the six on four advantage for the final minute and simply could not get the tying goal past Liston.
Unfortunately for the Birds a controversial goal would end up being the difference in the 3-2 loss. You could also look back to another very slow start being out shot 21-10 in the first period. If the Thunderbirds are going to be successful they will need to come out much stronger. The Birds were also out shot 14-5 in the third period. Total shots were 40-27 in favor of Brandon.
Sunday night the Birds will be in Moose Jaw taking on the Warriors. Game time is 5 p.m.
As I follow the Thunderbirds through Saskatchewan over the next week I will be posting some road stories along with the game recaps. Sunday nights game will be the final time the Birds play in the “crushed can” in Moose Jaw as their new arena will open next season.
Game Notes:
– D Erik Fleming remains out with an MCL sprain.
– Attendance was announced as 4,730 at Westman Place.
– The Thunderbirds were 1 for 2 on the power play, Brandon was 0 for 3.
– Seattle falls to 3-3-1-1 on the road.
Game Summary:
1st Period-1, Seattle, Doty 1 (Ramsay), 12:09. 2, Brandon, Ferland 2 (Glennie), 19:16. Penalties-Jacobs Sea (interference), 6:06; Alos Sea (roughing), 12:52; King Bdn (roughing), 12:52.
2nd Period-3, Brandon, Walker 8 (Ferland, Glennie), 10:41. Penalties-Elliot Sea (high sticking), 12:34.
3rd Period-4, Brandon, Stone 12 (Wiebe, Ciarelli), 2:49. 5, Seattle, Lockhart 5 (Gallimore, Jacobs), 3:23 (PP). Penalties-Mieritz Bdn (inter. on goaltender), 3:03; Jacobs Sea (hooking), 4:02; Wiebe Bdn (hooking), 18:54.
Shots on Goal-Seattle 10-12-5-27. Brandon 21-5-14-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Seattle 1 / 2; Brandon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Seattle, Pickard 6-3-2-2 (40 shots-37 saves). Brandon, Liston 5-4-0-1 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-4,730
Referees-Pat Smith (12), Matt Thurston (64).
Linesmen-Bryden Hutlet (114), Chad Marshall (95).
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