The Prince George Cougars defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in a shoot-out Friday night at ShoWare Center. The loss snapped the T-Birds three-game win streak.
The game was tied 2-2 after a scoreless overtime period. The T-Birds Branden Troock was the first shooter in the shoot-out. He was denied by Prince George goalie Drew Owsley. Charles Inglis was the first Cougars shooter. Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard got a piece of Inglis’ shot but the puck trickled into the net.
Luke Lockhart was the T-Birds second shooter and he was stopped by Owsley. Alex Forsberg was next up for Prince George and Pickard made the save to keep the T-Birds alive.
Marcel Noebels was the third Seattle shooter but Owsley made the save to get the Cougars the win.
Seattle (10-11-0-1) was awarded a penalty shot after Prince George’s Jesse Forsberg closed his hand over the puck in the crease at 17:46 of the first. Burke Gallimore carried the puck in close and was stopped by Owsley.
The T-Birds led the Cougars in shots on goal 13-10 after the first period.
Seattle tied the game 1-1 at 3:30 of the second. Troock carried the puck into the Cougar zone on the right side. At the bottom of the right circle he made a pass through the crease to Jacob Doty at the left post. Doty tapped the puck past Owsley’s outstretched right skate to score the T-Birds first goal of the night.
Seattle led Prince George in shots 19-15 after two periods of play.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal at 13:30 of the third. Burke Gallimore passed the puck to Shea Theodore at the left point. Theodore carried the puck into the center of the ice and took a slap shot. Theodore’s shot hit a Cougar defender and bounced to Noebels in the high slot. Noebels snapped a wrist shot over Owsley’s glove for his ninth goal of the season.
Prince George tied the game 2-2 with 39 seconds left in the game on a goal from Inglis. The Cougars pulled Owsley for the extra attacker and it paid off for the Cougars. Martin Marincin and Cody Carlson had the assists.
The T-Birds led in shots 31-25 after three periods in regulation.
After a scoreless overtime, Seattle led in shots 34-28.
Pickard had 26 saves in 28 shots and is credited with the loss bringing his record to 10-11-0-1.
Owsley had 32 saves in 34 shots, increasing his record to 6-14-1-2.
Seattle travels to play the Kamloops Blazers at the Interior Savings Centre on Saturday at 7 p.m. The T-Birds return home on Tuesday, November 29, to face the Swift Current Broncos at 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center in Kent.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Prince George, Fraser 7, :55. Missed penalty shot -Gallimore, Seattle, 17:46. Penalties – Hauf, Seattle (holding), 2:44. Daae, Prince George (tripping), 5:43. Sutter, Sea (kneeing), 10:01. Inglis, PG (high-sticking), 10:33. Smith, PG (hooking), 15:09. Inglis, PG (tripping), 16:35. J. Forsberg, PG (Closing hand on puck), 17:46 (ps).
Second period – 2, Seattle, Doty 1 (Troock), 3:30. Penalties – Fraser, PG (goaltender interference), :58. Troock, Sea (interference), 4:12. Verdino, Sea (interference), 13:25. Verdino, Sea (hooking), 16:18.
Third period – 3, Seattle, Noebels 9 (Theodore, Gallimore), 13:30 (pp). 4, Prince George, Inglis 8 (Marincin, Carlson), 19:21. Penalties – Carlson, PG (hooking), 6:02. Alos, Sea (embellishment), 6:02. Springer, PG (tripping), 12:56.
Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.
Shootout – Seattle 0 (Troock NG, Lockhart NG, Noebels NG). Prince George 1 (Inglis G, A. Forsberg NG).
Shots on goal – Seattle 13-6-12-3 34. Prince George 10-5-10-3 28. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 28 shots-26 saves (10-11-0-1); Prince George, Owsley 34-32 (6-14-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Prince George 0-5. A – 3,453. Referee – Brett Montsion, Ryan Benbow.Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Adam Brastad.