Chiefs get past Thunderbirds in overtime

Mount registers first career goal in 3-2 loss to Spokane

November 14, 2018 7:30 am
Thunderbirds defenseman Tyrel Bauer knocks the Chiefs’ Jack Finley to the ice during WHL play Tuesday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime in a Western Hockey League game Tuesday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

It was the Thunderbirds’ sixth straight loss.

Seattle (7-8-3-0) took a 1-0 lead at 3:36 of the first period on Payton Mount’s first career goal. Matthew Wedman won a faceoff in the right circle of the Spokane zone forward. Mount skated in and got the puck, put it through a defenseman’s legs and then came in alone on Spokane goalie Dawson Weatherill. Mount went forehand backhand and roofed the puck over the goalie’s blocker.

Jaxan Kaluski and Zack Andrusiak combined on a pretty two-on-one break at 5:29 of the second period to put the T-Birds up 2-0. Kaluski came down the left wing with Andrusiak on his right. Kaluski skated into the left circle, slowed up and then crossed the puck to Andrusiak in the slot. Andrusiak snapped the pass past a lunging Weatherill for his eighth goal of the season.

Dillon Hamaliuk was awarded a penalty shot at 16:38 of the second when he was taken down from behind on a breakaway. Hamaliuk skated wide right and then entered the Spokane zone. Hamaliuk stickhandled toward Weatherill and took a shot just missing the net wide left.

The Chiefs cut the T-Birds lead to one on Ethan McIndoe’s power-play goal at 7:05 of the third period. Ty Smith and Carter Chorney had the assists.

Smith tied the game 2-2 at 16:50 of the second. Chorney and Luke Toporowski had the assists.

Toporowski scored the overtime game-winning goal at 3:58 when his shot hit a stick and deflected up and over Seattle goalie Liam Hughes into the back the back of the net.

The T-Birds outshot the Chiefs 39-37 in the game.

Hughes had 34 saves, and his record is 7-6-2-0. Weatherill made 37 saves, and his record is 3-4-0-1.

Up next

The T-Birds travel to Spokane to play the Chiefs on Friday at 7:05 p.m. They are back home on Saturday for a 6:05 p.m. game against the Portland Winterhawks that will be broadcast on JOEtv.

Single-game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare box office.

Fans who purchase the 24-flex ticket package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Mount 1 (Wedman), 3:36. Penalties – Woods, Spo (holding), 16:13. Huo, Sea (holding opponents stick), 18:15. Lee, Sea (interference), 18:47. Woods, Spo (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Andrusiak 8 (Kaluski), 3:05. Penalties – Huo, Sea (high-sticking), 5:29. Savey, Sea (charging), 11:39.

Third period – 3, Spokane, McIndoe 6 (Smith, Chorney), 7:05 (pp). 4, Smith 3 (Zummack, Toporowski), 16:50. Penalties – Lee, Sea (slashing), 6:07. Chorney, Spo (slashing), 14:29. Huo, Sea (kneeing), 17:44.

Overtime – 5, Spokane, Toporowski 7 (Zummack, Smith), 3:58. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 11-9-17-2 39, Spokane 10-12-14-1 37. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 37 shots-34 saves (7-6-2-0); Spokane, Weatherill 39-37 (3-4-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Spokane 1-6. A – 4,253. Referees – Bryan Bourdon, Ryan O’Keeffe. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Cameron Wetmore.