Thunderbirds
Game 9: Pickard has a huge night but Birds lose 2-1 in the shootout
(10-2-0-1)Portland Winterhawks 2,(5-2-1-1)Seattle Thunderbirds 1 (Shootout)
Pickard makes 42 saves…Jacobs with a power play goal
PORTLAND– Superb goaltending by Calvin Pickard (5-2-1-1) allows Seattle to pick up a hard earned road point.
If the Thunderbirds wanted to play a better first period than in the last game in Portland I guess you could say they were somewhat successful. With just over six minutes remaining in the first period shots were 8-4 in favor of Portland but the Birds were able to pick up the first power play of the game. They only managed one shot and with just over four minutes left the game remained scoreless. At 16:33 the Birds went on the power play for the second time. They weren’t able to control the puck and Colin Jacobs took a hooking penalty to even things up at 17:26. The teams played four on four until the Hawks went on their first power play. Despite getting several quality scoring chances the Birds were able to kill off the man advantage and the first period ended scoreless. Portland out shot Seattle 15-5. Once against the Birds didn’t have a great first period as Portland controlled play for most of it. The Birds best player in the period was Pickard.
At 3:35 of the second period the Birds went on their third power play of the night as Portland’s Brad Ross was called for hooking. Jacobs took advantage by blazing one past Mac Carruth (4-1) at 5:05 for the first goal of the game as the Birds went up 1-0. With 11:12 remaining the Hawks went on the power play for the second time but the Birds were able to kill it off. With the teams skating four on four the Birds were called for a penalty so Portland had a four on three power play for 29 seconds. They did not convert on the four on three, nor did they on the ensuing five on four. With 2:41 left in the period Brenden Dillon took a roughing penalty to give Portland their fourth power play and this time they took advantage as Ty Rattie put one in through the back door to tie the game at 1-1 at 18:16. That’s the way it would end after 40 minutes of play. The Birds drew a late power play opportunity as Burke Gallimore was hit with a high stick. They penalty would carry over into the third period. A better second period for the Birds as far as controlling the puck but they took three penalties and were burned on the last one. “We really got going and then we had to kill a penalty, it sucked a little bit of our momentum out but I really liked the way we fought to change that and get back at it”, said Rob Sumner . Shots were 27-17 Portland after two periods of play.
The power play that the Birds carried into third went by the waist side and the game remained tied 1-1 early in the third period. Athe tight first half of the third period would culminate with the Birds picking up their fifth power play opportunity with 9:24 remaining in the period. The Birds couldn’t do anything with the opportunity and Jacobs took a hooking penalty as Portland was heading 2 on 1 into the Birds zone. It would be Portland’s fifth chance with the man advantage. A good penalty kill by the Birds would keep the game tied at 1. With 4:33 remaining the Birds took another penalty to give the Hawks their sixth power play. The Birds killed it off as the game headed down to the wire with the score tied 1-1. Not surprisingly the game would go to overtime once again. It would be the Birds fifth overtime game in only their ninth game of the season. Shots at the end of regulation were 40-23 Portland.
Shots in overtime were 3-3 with each team having at least one great scoring opportunity but there were no goals and just like the last game in Portland it would go to the shootout. Shots ended up 43-26 in favor of Portland.
The Birds would go on to lose their first shootout game in four chances as Portland shooters went 2 for 3 and the Birds were 0 for 2.
While Portland certainly controlled play for a good portion of the game, the Birds, behind the goaltending of Pickard, were able to scratch out a big road point by getting this one into overtime. Portland kept cycling one strong line after another and the Birds kept grinding and grinding, never allowing the Hawks to completely dictate play. It was certainly another solid effort by the Birds who now have five out of six points against Portland. They also have a six game streak where they have gotten at least a point (4-1-1).
Sumner was fairly pleased with the way his team played not just tonight but overall as well, “I thought we came here to play, we played a lot better in the first period in this game than the last one here. We have a lot of improving yet but that’s exciting for us because we’re doing all right and playing hard.”
The Thunderbirds next game will be Tuesday night at home against the Tri-City Americans. Game time is 7 pm.
Game notes:
– Pickard stopped 42 of 43 shots to earn the star of the game
– D Scott Ramsay was not in the lineup as he is still not 100 percent since recovering from a concussion.
– D Erik Fleming was out with a shoulder injury and is day to day.
– The Thunderbirds road record now stands at 3-2-0-1
– Attendance in Portland was announced as 8,432.
Game Summary
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Morrow Por (hooking), 13:44; Burns Por (holding), 16:33; Jacobs Sea (tripping), 17:26; Dillon Sea (cross checking), 19:38; Rattie Por (roughing), 19:38.
2nd Period-1, Seattle, Jacobs 4 (Wells, Toomey), 5:05 (PP). 2, Portland, Rattie 9 (Morrow, Bartschi), 18:16 (PP). Penalties-Ross Por (hooking), 3:25; Frank Sea (holding), 8:48; Toomey Sea (slashing), 11:23; Swenson Por (roughing), 11:23; Noebels Sea (tripping), 12:54; Dillon Sea (roughing), 17:19; Boychuk Por (high sticking), 19:46.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Boychuk Por (checking from behind), 10:36; Jacobs Sea (hooking), 11:51; Rouse Sea (holding), 15:27.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – Seattle 0 (Gallimore NG, Noebels NG), Portland 2 (Rattie G, Bartschi NG, Leipsic G).
Shots on Goal-Seattle 5-12-6-3-26. Portland 15-12-13-3-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Seattle 1 / 5; Portland 1 / 6.
Goalies-Seattle, Pickard 5-2-1-0 (43 shots-42 saves). Portland, Carruth 3-1-0-0 (26 shots-25 saves).
A-8,432
Referees-Jason Nissen (91), Shane Warschaw (86).
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), Brock Gallien (110).
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