Thunderbirds
Game 10: Thunderbirds lose back and forth game to the Americans in shootout
(10-4-1)Tri-City Americans 5,(5-2-1-2)Seattle Thunderbirds 4 (Shootout)
Lockhart scores twice…Noebels with three points
KENT– Behind a potent power play the Thunderbirds were able to secure a point against the Americans. Not being able to hold four leads cost them a win.
After an uneventful first 10 minutes Marcel Noebels got the Birds on the board first with assists from Brenden Dillon and Charles Wells. It was Noebels third goal of the season and it gave the Birds a 1-0 lead. A Giveaway in the defensive zone led to the Americans first goal as Jordan Messier scored his ninth of the season to tie the game at 1-1 at the 13:22 mark of the first period. Fairly tight first period with the Birds taking away some of the speed through the neutral zone that the Americans love to use to their advantage. Not many good scoring chances either way. No penalties were called. Shots were 13-10 in favor of the Americans.
Just over five minutes into the second period the Birds were awarded the first power play of the game as Brooks Macek was called for tripping. Luke Lockhart was able to put one past Drew Owsley (7-4) off of a beautiful set of passes from Noebels and Colin Jacobs at the 6:20 mark to give Seattle as 2-1 lead. It was Lockhart’s third goal of the season. With 11:03 left the Birds went on the power play for the second time and despite a couple of good scoring chances they weren’t able to convert. At 13:07 the Americans went on the power play for the first time as Jacobs was called for delay of game but the Birds were able to kill it off rather easily. However just a few minutes later a too many men call against Seattle put the Americans back on the power play and they took advantage as Zachary Yuen put one past Calvin Pickard (5-2-1-2) to tie the game at two. With 1:16 remaining the Birds went back on the power play and the penalty would carry over into the third period. Shots after two periods were all even at 21 a piece.
It didn’t take much time for the Birds to get the lead back for the third time as Lockhart converted on the power play to start the third period and the Birds went up 3-2. The goal was assisted by Gallimore and Noebels. It was Lockhart’s second of the game and fourth of the season. The Americans didn’t let the Birds have the lead for long as they tied the game for the third time at the 3:14 mark. It was Mason Wilgosh that got the Ams even at 3-3. At the 4:05 mark Noebels was given a 10 minute misconduct, much to the dismay of the 3,045 in attendance. It was the result of an instigator penalty as Noebels took exception to Charles Wells being checked from behind by Spencer Humphries .
Burke Gallimore would put the Birds back up 4-3 on their third power play goal of the game at 10:30. The goal was assisted by Erik Bonsor and Dillon. It was Gallimore’s seventh goal. For the fourth time in the game the Americans were able to answer as Justin Feser tied the game at four at the 14 minute mark.
For the sixth time in their first 10 games, 60 minutes would not be enough to declare a winner and the game went to overtime tied 4-4.
There was no scoring in OT as Seattle out shot the Ams 5-2 in the period. Shots ended 34-33 in favor of the Americans. So for the fifth time this season the game went to the shootout.
The Americans went on to win 5-4 as they converted 2 of 3 in the shootout and the Birds converted 1 of 3. With the point, the Birds have picked up at least one point in their last seven games (4-0-1-2).
Once again the Thunderbirds played a gritty game and for the most part held their own against one of the best teams in the league. Their power play which went 3 for 4 helped them secure a point however not being able to hold four one goal leads really cost them a win. Credit had to go to the Americans who were able to snatch any momentum the Birds got from their power play goals by coming right back each time. “A couple of the goals they evened it up with were a little bit sloppy but they are a good team and when you give them the opportunities they will capitalize,” said Rob Sumner.
Lockhart, Gallimore and Noebels all had an outstanding game tonight as they really clicked on the power play. Noebels actually had the Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist and a fight.
After tonight’s game the Thunderbirds are 2nd overall in the league on the power play. “It’s a little bit of a personnel issue, we’re also trying to do some different things. Success builds confidence, you also have to get the odd bounce as well,” said Sumner. On the teams play to this point Sumner is pretty happy with things thus far. “Our effort is excellent, we have a lot to learn, we were the youngest team last year with not much success at all and we didn’t get that much older overnight. We’ve improved in some areas and we still need to improve in others.”
On Friday the Thunderbirds will play the offensively potent Prince George Cougars and Sumner knows it won’t be easy against the much improved Cougars. “With a team that can score a lot of goals, that likes to play open, we need to be on our toes and play solid defense in order to be successful.”
That game will be at the ShoWare Center starting at 7:30 pm.
Game Notes
– D Scott Ramsay (concussion..day to day) and D Erik Fleming (MCL sprain, week to week) were out of the lineup.
– In the shootout Noebels scored while Gallimore and Lockhart missed.
-The Thunderbirds are now 2-0-1-1 at home.
-Attendance was announced as 3,045.
Game Summary
1st Period-1, Seattle, Noebels 3 (Dillon, Wells), 10:00. 2, Tri-City, Messier 9 (Feser), 13:22. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-3, Seattle, Lockhart 3 (Noebels, Jacobs), 6:20 (PP). 4, Tri-City, Yuen 2 (Hughesman, Schmidt), 17:31 (PP). Penalties-Macek T.c (tripping), 5:21; Yuen T.c (tripping), 8:57; Jacobs Sea (delay of game), 13:06; Lund Sea (too many men), 16:27; Grist T.c (charging), 18:42.
3rd Period-5, Seattle, Lockhart 4 (Gallimore, Noebels), 0:30 (PP). 6, Tri-City, Wilgosh 2 (Schmidt, Olstad), 3:14. 7, Seattle, Gallimore 7 (Bonsor, Dillon), 10:30 (PP). 8, Tri-City, Feser 5 (Holland), 14:00. Penalties-Humphries T.c (checking from behind, major-fighting), 4:05; Noebels Sea (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 4:05; Schmidt T.c (checking from behind), 8:34.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – Tri-City 2 (Hughesman NG, Holland G, Feser G), Seattle 1 (Gallimore NG, Noebels G, Lockhart NG).
Shots on Goal-Tri-City 13-8-11-2-34. Seattle 10-11-7-5-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Tri-City 1 / 2; Seattle 3 / 4.
Goalies-Tri-City, Owsley 6-4-0-0 (33 shots-29 saves). Seattle, Pickard 5-2-1-1 (34 shots-30 saves).
A-3,045
Referees-Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Kiel Murchison (46), David Tise (119).
Comments