Game 4: Thunderbirds overcome a late blown lead to win in the shootout

Seattle Thunderbirds 3, Lethbridge Hurricanes 2 (Shootout)

(2-2) (2-0-0-1)

It was a scary final few minutes of regulation for the Seattle Thunderbirds as a 2-0 lead quickly dissolved and the Lethbridge Hurricanes were looking for more. The Birds had a seemingly comfortable two goal lead with just 2:53 remaining in the third period when the Hurricanes finally broke through against goaltender Calvin Pickard and made it a one goal game. The goal came as the teams were skating four on four and just 82 seconds later after Lethbridge pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, the Hurricanes tied the game at two. With the newly energized Hurricanes coming on strong the Thunderbirds had to hold on in order to get the game into overtime. In the overtime period Seattle seemed to get things back in order and out shot Lethbridge 3-0 but the game was destined to go to the shootout, just as these two teams had done in the preseason.

Luckily for the Birds the result was the same as well. Burke Gallimore and Marcel Noebels scored for the Birds while Pickard was able to stonewall the Hurricanes two shooters and Seattle ended up with a 3-2 victory to even their record at 2-2. They are 2-0 at home.

The game was scoreless after the first 40 minutes as neither team had many quality scoring chances. For Lethbridge maybe it was the effects of their long bus ride and for the Birds maybe it was a bit of a letdown after the energy the ShoWare Center had opening night as tonight’s announced crowd of 3,255 was a bit subdued in comparison. Regardless, after two periods the shots were 20 a piece, and you could sense that whichever team scored first would probably win the game.

Only 1:23 into the third period Travis Toomey made sure the Birds would tally that all important first goal as he connected on a breakaway chance, scoring not only the first goal of the game but also his first goal as a Thunderbird. This really seemed to energize Seattle and they began to take control of the game. However shutouts are rare and insurance would probably be necessary and Marcel Noebels provided that insurance when he beat goaltender Brandon Anderson at 13:40 and put Seattle up 2-0. It was Noebels second goal of the season.

That looked like it would be enough to carry the Birds to victory until the Hurricanes began their late comeback. It would be good enough to get them a road point in their first of three games against the U.S. Division. No matter for the Thunderbirds though as they still come away with two very important home points.

The game as expected had some bad blood going on as these two teams scrapped quite a bit in their preseason game. So it wasn’t a surprise when Jacob Doty went at it with Neil Tarnasky in the first period. This fight was all Doty. Later in the first Chance Lund and Derek Ryckman fought while in the second period Mitch Elliot and Cason Machacek went at it. Machacek also received a 10 minute misconduct in the first period. As I had mentioned after the preseason game between the two teams, Lethbridge is a young and somewhat undisciplined team and it showed at points in this game as well. They also have some fight which showed as well especially in the last few minutes of regulation.

So after not winning a shootout all of last season, the Thunderbirds win their first of the new season and if you take into account preseason they have won all three shootouts they have been in. In fact Seattle shooters are a perfect seven for seven. Last season they were one for 12. Head Coach Rob Sumner says that it has something to do with the new faces, “Well Noebels has scored (in the shootout), he’s new to our team, I’ve used Sanvido.. we’re just more confident offensively and that helps.” Noebels has certainly shown to be an impact player for the Birds and that fact hasn’t been lost on Sumner, “Noebels has an offensive side but he’s also a very smart player..a great addition (to the team).”

The Thunderbirds will try to take momentum from this win on the road which is where they will play the next three games. They will play in Portland Saturday night, Chilliwack on the 9th and Vancouver on the 15th before returning home to play the Calgary Hitmen on the 16th.

It will be a different Winterhawks team than was seen on opening night as a few key players have returned from NHL camps. The Birds will be looking for their first win in Portland since the 2008-2009 season.

Game notes:

– F Tyler Alos, F Justin Hickman, F Branden Troock and D Scott Ramsay were still sidelined for the Thunderbirds. D Austin Frank was a healthy scratch.

– The three stars of the game were Marcel Noebels, and Travis Toomey of the Thunderbirds and Philip Tot of the Hurricanes.

Scoring summary

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Ryckman Let (checking from behind), 1:21; Machacek Let (10-minute misconduct), 3:01; Yadlowski Let (roughing), 3:01; Tarnasky Let (major-fighting), 9:37; Yadlowski Let (roughing), 9:37; Dillon Sea (elbowing), 9:37; Doty Sea (major-fighting), 9:37; Noebels Sea (hooking), 11:02; Ryckman Let (major-fighting), 17:15; Lund Sea (major-fighting), 17:15.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Reddington Let (tripping), 6:57; Machacek Let (major-fighting), 9:47; Elliot Sea (major-fighting), 9:47; Anderson Let (delay of game), 13:19.

3rd Period-1, Seattle, Toomey 1 1:23. 2, Seattle, Noebels 2 13:40. 3, Lethbridge, Berglund 2 (Tot, Yadlowski), 17:17. 4, Lethbridge, Tot 1 (Oslanski, Yadlowski), 18:29. Penalties-Sutter Sea (high sticking), 7:10; Braes Let (roughing), 17:03; Sutter Sea (roughing), 17:03.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Lethbridge 0 (Ross NG, Maxwell NG), Seattle 2 (Gallimore G, Noebels G).

Shots on Goal-Lethbridge 9-11-11-0-0-31. Seattle 13-7-14-3-1-38.

Power Play Opportunities-Lethbridge 0 / 2; Seattle 0 / 4.

Goalies-Lethbridge, Anderson 1-0-0-1 (37 shots-35 saves). Seattle, Pickard 2-2-0-0 (31 shots-29 saves).

A-3,255

Referees-Trevor Hanson, Brett Iverson (24).

Linesmen-Zach Brooks (26), Nathan Van Oosten (115).