Game 35: Thunderbirds go down hard in Spokane
Dec 29, 2010, 10:21 PM | Updated: Apr 6, 2011, 11:23 am
(21-10-3-2) Spokane Chiefs 8, (15-13-3-4) Seattle Thunderbirds 2
Spokane gets 56 shots..Johnson with a hat trick
SPOKANE– Scoring eight straight goals the Spokane Chiefs dominate the Thunderbirds and win 8-2. The Birds lose both games of the home and home against their I-90 rivals.
The Thunderbirds scored on their first shot of the game. Travis Toomey (6) knocked one past James Reid (21-7-2-1) at 2:19 to give the Birds a 1-0 lead. Assists were from Erik Bonsor and Burke Gallimore.
Seattle went on the power play when Marek Kalus was called for Interference at 6:03. They did not score and registered one shot.
Jacob Doty was called for Interference at 11:24 putting Spokane on the power play. Spokane got several shots but did not score.
Doty took another penalty at 14:12 for Goaltender Interference and Spokane went back to the power play.
With three seconds left in the Doty minor, Brendan Rouse was called for Hooking and Spokane went on their third straight power play. The Birds killed off the penalties.
The Chiefs tied the game 1-1 at the 18:28 mark when Kalus (3) slapped one past Calvin Pickard (15-11-2-4).
That’s the way it would stand after 20 minutes. The Birds were out shot 17-5 with the Chiefs getting the last 15 shots in the period thanks to all of the penalties the Birds took.
The Thunderbirds picked up an early power play chance at 1:59 of the second period as Kyle Krzyzaniak was called for Tripping. They didn’t convert and had two shots.
Spokane went up 2-1 at the 5:27 mark. Steve Kuhn netted his 10th goal of the season.
The Chiefs took a 3-1 lead when Tyler Johnson (25) scored at 11:24.
They quickly scored again and went up 4-1 at the 12:25 mark as Tanner Mort put in his third of the season.
Rob Sumner then called a time out.
Johnson scored his second goal of the night and 26th of the season at the 15:31 mark to put the Chiefs up 5-1.
Johnson (27) got the hat trick at 19:09 to put the Chiefs up 6-1.
The Birds are outscored 5-0 in the second period and the Chiefs score six unanswered goals since the Birds took an early 1-0 lead.
Shots in the second period were 22-4 in favor of the Chiefs and after 40 minutes shots were 39-9.
Michael Salmon replaced Pickard in net for the Birds to start the third period.
Spokane went up 7-1 when Matt Marantz (9) scored at the 6:04 mark.
The Birds went on the power play at 6:47 when Davis Vandane took a Holding penalty. They did not convert.
At 10:48 the Chiefs went on the power play. Toomey was called for Interference. They capitalized and went up 8-1. The goal was scored at 12:43 by Tyler Vanscourt (3).
Scott Ramsay went off for Roughing at 13:59 and Spokane was right back on the power play.
Toomey joined Ramsay in the box when he was called for Elbowing at 15:00 to give the Chiefs a five on three advantage for a minute. Spokane did not score.
Brenden Dillon and Darren Kramer dropped the gloves with each guy getting in a few shots before heading to the showers.
A bunch of penalties handed out late in the third as the result of the Birds frustrations. The Chiefs end up with a five on three advantage for two minutes.
Charles Wells (9) scored a short handed goal at 19:26 to finally end the streak of eight straight goals by the Chiefs. His goal was unassisted and cut the Chiefs lead to 8-2.
That’s the way it would end.
The Birds were out shot 17-5 in the third and 56-14 in the game.
There is no way to sugar coat this one. The worst loss of the year if you look at the scoreboard and combine that with the shot totals. After scoring the first goal of the game, the Birds took three straight penalties and everything fell apart after that even though they killed off each of them.
I don’t think anyone could be happy with the effort tonight. You will remember that last season the Birds had trouble after the Holiday break and it led to a 17 game losing streak and the end of their playoff hopes. It may be getting to the point where the Birds will need to make some moves just to “insure” a playoff spot as they simply cannot afford to miss them again.
Spokane won nearly every puck battle tonight and the Birds could not clear the puck out of their zone all night long leading to those dangerous extra seconds in the defensive zone that lead to goals. They also let the Chiefs best player beat them badly with Johnson picking up a hat trick.
The Thunderbirds will try to rebound from their back to back losses against Spokane when they play the ever famous New Year’s Eve game in Portland on Friday night. Game time is 8 pm. The game can be heard live at MyNorthwest.com
Game Notes:
– A bad night plus minus wise for the Birds. Dillon was a minus 7.
-Seattle drops to 10-6-2-2 on the road.
-The Birds record against U.S. Division rivals drops to 6-8-0-3.
-Seattle was 0 for 3 on the power play, Spokane was 1 for 8.
– Attendance in Spokane was announced as 5,861 on a very snowy night.
Game Summary:
1st Period-1, Seattle, Toomey 6 (Bonsor, Gallimore), 2:19. 2, Spokane, Kalus 3 (Brassart, Vandane), 18:28. Penalties-Kalus Spo (interference), 6:03; Doty Sea (interference), 11:24; Doty Sea (inter. on goaltender), 14:12; Rouse Sea (hooking), 16:10.
2nd Period-3, Spokane, Kuhn 10 (Miller), 5:27. 4, Spokane, Johnson 25 (Uher, Koper), 11:24. 5, Spokane, Mort 3 (Kuhn, Miller), 12:25. 6, Spokane, Johnson 26 (Uher), 15:31. 7, Spokane, Johnson 27 (Uher, Koper), 19:10. Penalties-Krzyzaniak Spo (tripping), 1:59.
3rd Period-8, Spokane, Marantz 9 (Brassart, Mort), 6:04. 9, Spokane, Vanscourt 3 (Brassart, Vandane), 12:43. 10, Seattle, Wells 9 19:26. Penalties-Vandane Spo (holding), 6:47; Toomey Sea (interference), 10:48; Ramsay Sea (roughing), 13:59; Toomey Sea (elbowing), 15:00; Dillon Sea (major-fighting), 16:53; Kramer Spo (major-fighting), 16:53; Doty Sea (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct), 17:35; Elliot Sea (10-minute misconduct), 17:35; Jacobs Sea (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct, game misconduct), 17:35; Brassart Spo (major-fighting), 17:35; Kalus Spo (major-fighting), 17:35; Marantz Spo (10-minute misconduct), 17:35.
Shots on Goal-Seattle 5-4-5-14. Spokane 17-22-17-56.
Power Play Opportunities-Seattle 0 / 3; Spokane 0 / 8.
Goalies-Seattle, Pickard 15-10-2-4 (39 shots-33 saves); Salmon 0-2-1-0 (17 shots-15 saves). Spokane, Reid 21-7-2-1 (13 shots-12 saves); Engel 0-3-1-1 (1 shots-0 saves).
A-5,816
Referees-Ryan Bonnett (39), Brett Iverson (24).
Linesmen-Jim Maniago (85), Scott Sharun (103).
