Winterhawks defeat Thunderbirds in shootout

Seattle remains the second wild-card playoff team in the Western Conference

February 24, 2019 1:30 pm
The Thunderbirds’ Matthew Wedman tires to rifle the puck past Winterhawks goalie Joel Hofer during WHL play Saturday night in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds
The Thunderbirds’ Matthew Wedman tires to rifle the puck past Winterhawks goalie Joel Hofer during WHL play Saturday night in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in a Western Hockey League shootout Saturday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead 2:05 into the first period. Henrik Rybinski won a puck battle behind the Portland net. Rybinski found Matthew Wedman in the low left circle with a pass. Wedman snapped the puck over Portland goalie Joel Hofer’s blocker for his 33th goal of the season. Wedman now has a 10-game point streak of 10 goals and seven assists.

Owen Williams put the T-Birds in front 2-0 at 8:04 of the first. Portland attempted to clear the puck up ice but it hit Williams in the back. Williams collected the loose puck and skated into the left circle. Williams beat Hofer over the glove for his fourth goal of the season.

Andrej Kukuca made it a 3-0 lead on the power play at 9:42 of the first. Noah Philp won the puck behind the Portland net and found Jarret Tyszka at the left point. Tyszka took a slap shot with Kukuca in front of Hofer. The Portland goalie made the save but Kukuca battled through a Portland defenseman and knocked the puck past Hofer.

Shane Farkas replaced Hofer in net after the T-Birds third goal. Hofer had three saves on six shots.

Portland got on the board at 1:57 of the second period on a goal from Clay Hanus. Reece Newkirk and Nick Perna had the assists.

The Winterhawks cut the lead to one at 2:24 of the second when Lane Gilliss scored off an assist from Robbie Fromm-Delorme.

Portland tied the game 3-3 at 3:21 of the third period on a goal from Jared Freadrich.

Portland’s Seth Jarvis was the only shooter to score in the shootout.

Seattle goalie Roddy Ross had 36 saves. Farkas made 23 saves.

Up next

The T-Birds return to the ice Friday at the Kamloops Blazers.

Tickets for upcoming home games are on sale 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, Wedman 33 (Rybinski), 2:05. 2, Seattle, Williams 4, 8:04. 3, Seattle, Kukuca 23 (Tyszka, Philp), 9:42 (pp). Penalties – Blichfeld, Por (hooking), 5:10. Newkirk, Sea (holding), 7:34. Volcan, Sea (roughing), 7:34. Freadrich, Por (tripping), 9:16. Gricius, Por (interference), 11:49. Glass, Por (high-sticking), 15:19. Lee, Sea (roughing), 18:49.

Second period – 4, Portland, Hanus 6 (Newkirk, Perna), 1:57. 5, Portland, Gilliss 14 (Fromm-Delorme), 2:24. Penalties – Mount, Sea (hooking), 5:18. Ashton, Sea (holding), 8:44. Cicek, Por (interference), 14:34. Cicek, Por (major-checking from behind, major-fighting, game misconduct), 16:44. Bauer, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting), 16:44.

Third period – 6, Portland, Freadrich 12 (Jarvis, Dureau), 3:21. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (interference), 9:09.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 0 (Philp NG, Wedman NG, Kukuca NG). Portland 1 (Glass NG, Jarvis G).

Shots on goal – Seattle 8-13-6-2 29, Portland 8-18-13-0 39. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 39 shots-26 saves (11-4-0-2); Portland, Hofer 6-3, Farkas 23-23. Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Portland 0-4. A – 6, 073. Referees – Adam Griffiths, Dexter Rasmussen. Linesmen – Brett Mackey, Michael McGowan.