Winterhawks skate past Thunderbirds

Bryks scores first goal as T-Bird in 4-1 loss to Portland

February 11, 2018 8:30 am
Thunderbirds center Donovan Neuls gathers the puck as the Winterhawks’ Henri Jokiharju defends during WHL play at the accesso ShoWare Center on Saturday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

For the Reporter

The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1 in front of 6,058 fans at the accesso ShoWare Center on Saturday night.

The teams return to Portland ice at Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a 5 p.m. game Sunday. (JOEtv on Channel 22/Cable 110 in Seattle).

Portland (34-18-1-3) took a 1-0 lead seven seconds into the second period on a power-play goal from Cody Glass.

The Winterhawks extended the lead to 2-0 at 8:37 of the second when Keoni Texeira scored.

Just after a Portland power play ended Ryan Hughes scored from the right circle at 13:11.

Seattle (27-19-6-2) cut the Winterhawks lead to two goals at 4:40 of the third period on Graeme Bryks first goal as a T-Bird. Owen Williams passed the puck up the right wing to Noah Philp. Philp carried the puck into the offensive zone and then crossed it to Bryks at the top of the left circle. Bryks beat Portland goalie Cole Kehler over the glove.

Bryks was just called up from the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL.

The T-Birds pulled goalie Liam Hughes for an extra attacker with 1:40 left in the game. Portland’s Skyler McKenzie scored an empty-net goal at 18:43 to seal the win for the Winterhawks.

Seattle outshot Portland 29-28 in the game.

Hughes had 24 saves on 27 shots and his record is now 10-7-3-1.

Kehler had 27 saves on 28 shots and his record is 26-13-1-3.

For tickets, order on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Blichfeld, Por (high-sticking), 10:00. Gricius, Por (interference), 13:06. MacLean, Sea (interference), 16:19. Williams, Sea (high-sticking), 19:25.

Second period – 1, Portland, Glass 27 (Cholowski), :07 (pp). 2, Portland, Texeira 8 (Hughes, Blichfeld), 8:37. 3, Portland, Hughes 10 (Texeira, De Jong), 13:11. Penalties – Lee, Sea (tripping), 11:06. Bargar, Sea (roughing), 15:55. Bellows, Por (roughing), 15:55.

Third period – 4, Seattle, Bryks 1 (Philp, Williams), 4:40. 5, Portland, McKenzie 41 (Jokiharju), 18:43 (en). Penalties – De Jong, Por (cross checking), 1:04. Ottenbreit, Sea (high-sticking), 14:05.

Shots on goal – Seattle 12-7-10 29, Portland 11-13-4 28. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 27 shots-24 saves (10-7-3-1); Portland, Kehler 29-28 (26-13-1-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Portland 1-4. A – 6,058. Referees – Fraser Lawrence, Colin Watt. Linesmen – Ron Dietterle, Brett Mackey.