Game 46: Thunderbirds lose to the Blazers in the shootout on controversial goal
Jan 18, 2011, 10:07 PM | Updated: Apr 6, 2011, 11:23 am
(21-24-1-1) Kamloops Blazers 4,(18-19-4-5)Seattle Thunderbirds 3 (shootout)
KENT–The Thunderbirds marched back from a 3-0 deficit to force overtime and eventually lost in the shootout on a controversial goal.
Gloves were dropped just 1:34 into the first period when Mitch Elliot and Josh Caron danced for a bit then threw some big punches. Both went off for five minutes.
Tyler Alos went off for Delay of Game at 6:36 to give the Blazers the first power play of the game. They didn’t convert.
The Blazers went back on the power play at 10:02. Chance Lund was assessed a double minor for High Sticking. Kamloops got a five on three advantage when Brenden Dillon was called for Slashing at 10:18. With nine seconds left on the two man advantage the Blazers scored to go up 1-0. Brady Gaudet netted his fifth of the season at 12:09. They did not score on their remaining power play time.
The Birds gave up the first 20 shots of the game and were out shot 26-5 in the period. “They bottled us up with the trap and we turned the puck over consistently and we didn’t have much energy on those pucks,” said Rob Sumner . “Our play went downhill in the first, it was a bad start for our team.”
The Birds went on the power play for the first time at 2:55 of the second period. Corey Fienhage was called for Hooking. They could not convert.
Seattle went back on the power play at 5:51 when the Blazers were called for Too Many Men. They didn’t convert and had no shots.
The Birds were called for Too Many Men putting the Blazers on the power play for the fifth time. Time of the penalty was 10:41. They did not convert.
The Blazers went up 2-0 when Chase Souto knocked his second goal of the season past Calvin Pickard (18-17-3-5) who had the puck trickle behind him before Souto knocked it in. Time of the goal was 13:05.
The Birds went on the power play at 14:55. Bronson Maschmeyer was called for Hooking. They did not convert.
Seattle went into the second intermission down 2-0. Shots in the second period were 14-9 in favor of the Birds. Overall the Blazers led in shots 35-19.
The teams skated four on four when Dillon was called for Tripping and Brendan Randford for USC Diving at 2:52 of the third period.
The Blazers went up 3-0 when Dylan Willick scored his 13th of the season at 3:38.
Back to four on four hockey at 5:42. Travis Toomey and Fienhage were called for Roughing.
The Birds went on the power play at 7:43 when Austin Madaisky was called for Tripping. They took advantage as Marcel Noebels knocked in his 16th goal of the season. Assists were from Burke Gallimore and Luke Lockhart. Time of the goal was 8:12.
Just 29 seconds later Jacob Doty (3) shot one past Jeff Bosch (17-12-1-0) to get the Birds to within one goal at 3-2. The assist was from Mitch Elliot.
Seattle went on the power play at 11:35 when Fienhage was called for Hooking. They didn’t convert.
With 1:35 remaining Pickard was pulled for the extra attacker. The Birds scored to tie the game 3-3 with 1:12 left when Toomey netted his 16th of the season. Assists were from Gallimore and Dillon.
The Birds forced OT coming back from down 3-0. “We were desperate and played hard and found a way to create some momentum and score some goals but through the first half of the game we didn’t play very well,” said Sumner.
Shots in the third period were 15-14 in favor of Seattle. After 60 minutes shots were 49-34 for the Blazers.
The Blazers would get a power play with 2:16 left in OT. Gallimore was called for Goaltender Interference. They didn’t convert.
The Birds went on the power play for the final 16 seconds. Dalibor Bortnak was called for High Sticking. It was a double minor.
Time ran down and the game went to the shootout. Shots in OT were 9-3 in favor of Kamloops. Overall they out shot the Birds 58-37.
The Blazers won the shootout (2-0) even though it looked like the game winner was shot in off a rebound which is not a legal shot. The refs told Sumner that the play was not reviewable.
A couple of things before we get to the game up until the shootout…
1) If you are going to have the shootout, which changes the way the game is played after 65 minutes of playing it one way, then you should at least have video review of goals. Watching the replay it was very quick but it looked as though Pickard touched the puck with his stick only to have the shooter touch it again and put it in. A video replay with multiple angles and slow motion might have seen it better. Either way it should be reviewable. With precious points at stake a shootout goal can be just as big as a regular goal. Get replay for these goals or get rid of the shootout and go to a 10 minute overtime then a tie. In fact just do the latter. It’s better for the integrity of the game.
2) Speaking of the integrity of the game I want to talk about the Blazers over the top celebration at the end of the game. This has been mentioned before but I paid attention this time and I have to say that it should be stopped by the league. Upon scoring the controversial winning goal the entire team raised their sticks over their heads and pumped them for a good minute or so. They did this while facing the crowd and the opposing bench. The entire time their coach Guy Charron just looked on and smirked.
I’m guessing the league wants their players to act like pros. Maybe I’m wrong here. Maybe they don’t care if they act like 10 year olds. Maybe the Blazers don’t realize that they also currently have the worst record in the Western Conference. No matter where they stand though, that kind of over the top celebration is bush league to say the least. The Blazers should more concerned with stopping this before it negatively affects their team. They should be less worried about muting sports writers.
The Birds did indeed earn a point after it looked like they would get nothing, being down 3-0 to a team that was missing a few key players. “It could have been disastrous but instead it was just a little disappointing (with the controversial shootout game winner),” said Sumner.
The penalty kill was effective enough to keep that Birds in the game when they took four penalties in the first period including being down two men for nearly two minutes. Sumner was asked about the PK unit. “We didn’t challenge the shooter on their goal but otherwise it came up big especially in overtime.”
Toomey once again scored a biog goal, this time at the most critical moment when the Birds had the extra attacker and needed to score. “He’s played great,” said Sumner. “Guys that are working and confident and playing that way tend to get results.”
The same could be said for Pickard who made 55 saves including 25 in the first period. “It could have gotten out of hand early,” remarked Sumner. “It was only a one goal game. That speaks to how well he played.”
The Thunderbirds next game is Friday night at the Sho against the Kelowna Rockets. Game time is 7:30 pm and the action can be heard live at MyNorthwest.com.
Game Notes:
-F Colin Jacobs missed the game as he is playing in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
–Seattle is now 7-9-1-3 at home.
-The Birds record against the Blazers stands at 0-1-1-1 (0-1-0-1 at home, 0-0-1-0 on the road)
-Both Seattle and Kamloops were 1 for 6 on the power play.
Game Summary: (courtesy of the WHL website)
1st Period-1, Kamloops, Gaudet 5 (Maschmeyer), 12:09 (PP). Penalties-Caron Kam (major-fighting), 1:34; Elliot Sea (major-fighting), 1:34; Alos Sea (delay of game), 6:36; Lund Sea (high sticking, high sticking), 10:02; Dillon Sea (slashing), 10:18.
2nd Period-2, Kamloops, Souto 2 (Hanes), 13:05. Penalties-Fienhage Kam (hooking), 2:55; Souto Kam (too many men), 5:51; Elliot Sea (too many men), 10:41; Maschmeyer Kam (hooking), 14:55.
3rd Period-3, Kamloops, Willick 13 (Bortnak), 3:38. 4, Seattle, Noebels 16 (Gallimore, Lockhart), 8:12 (PP). 5, Seattle, Doty 3 (Elliot), 8:31. 6, Seattle, Toomey 15 (Gallimore, Dillon), 18:48. Penalties-Ranford Kam (usc diving), 2:22; Dillon Sea (tripping), 2:22; Fienhage Kam (roughing), 5:42; Toomey Sea (roughing), 5:42; Madaisky Kam (hooking), 7:43; Fienhage Kam (hooking), 11:35.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gallimore Sea (inter. on goaltender), 2:44; Bortnak Kam (high sticking, high sticking), 4:43.
Shootout – Kamloops 2 (Ranford G, Smith G), Seattle 0 (Gallimore NG, Noebels NG).
Shots on Goal-Kamloops 26-9-14-9-1-59. Seattle 5-14-15-3-0-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Kamloops 1 / 6; Seattle 1 / 6.
Goalies-Kamloops, Bosch 17-12-1-0 (37 shots-34 saves). Seattle, Pickard 18-17-3-5 (58 shots-55 saves).
A-3,060
Referees-Colby Smith (57), Shane Warschaw (86).
Linesmen-Tim Digby (75), Chris Carlson (92).
