Game 28: Thunderbirds come back from three goal deficit to defeat Cougars

(13-8-3-4) Seattle Thunderbirds 5, ( 15-11-2-1) P.G. Cougars 4 (Shootout)

Noebels with a goal and assist..Wells with two goals..Jacobs with shootout winner

PRINCE GEORGE–The Thunderbirds found themselves behind by three goals in the early going but come all the way back to win in the shootout as they take two from the Cougars.

Former T-Bird Sena Acolatse got the Cougars on the board first as he slapped in his 8th goal of the season at 4:09. It didn’t take long for Prince George to take a 2-0 lead as Charles Inglis scored his 13th goal at 5:48.

The Birds went on the power play at 8:41 when Inglis took a Holding penalty. They could not convert, getting just one shot on net. The Cougars went up 3-0 at 13:07 as Greg Fraser (6) knocked one past Calvin Pickard (13-8-2-4) who had trouble controlling the puck.

At the 15:35 mark the Cougars went on the power play for the first time when Brenden Dillon was called for Roughing. They didn’t score and just after the penalty expired the Birds went on the power play as Nick Buonassisi took a Tripping penalty at 17:45. The Birds took advantage when Charles Wells scored his 6th goal to cut the Cougars lead to 3-1. The goal was scored at 18:22 and was assisted by Luke Lockhart and Burke Gallimore. Less than a minute later the Birds made it a one goal game when Dillon (4) scored unassisted.

After falling behind 3-0 the Birds would go into the first intermission down 3-2. Shots were 15-13 in favor of the Cougars.

Only 31 seconds into the second period the Cougars went up 4-2 when James Dobrowolski knocked in his 8th goal of the season. Pickard was then called for Delay of Game to put the Cougars on the power play. They did not convert.

The Birds went on their third power play of the night at 11:54 when Inglis was called for Holding. The Cougars killed off the penalty to put the Birds at 1 for 3 on the power play.

With just 52 seconds left in the second Marcel Noebels scored his 10th goal to get the Birds back to within one at 4-3. It was assisted by Lockhart.

That’s the way it would go into the third period. Shots after 40 minutes were 25-20 in favor of the Cougars.

The Cougars picked up their third power play opportunity at the 6:03 mark of the third as Chance Lund took a High Sticking penalty. The Birds killed it off and got two shots short handed. The Birds took another penalty at 8:55 when Mitch Elliot was called for Tripping. The Birds killed it and the Cougars were at 0 for 4 on the power play.

The Birds tied the game 4-4 at 13:25 when Wells knocked in his second goal of the game, beating Cougars goalie Ty Rimmer (6-4-0-1). It was his 7th of the season. It was assisted by Noebels and Lockhart.

The Birds would force overtime. Shots after regulation play were 39-31 in favor of Prince George.

Noebels and Daniel Gibb took penalties at 1:16 to create a very rare three on three situation. The Cougars had a great chance but Pickard made a superb pad save to keep the game tied.

No scoring in an overtime period that was dominated by the Cougars as they out shot the Birds 4-1. Shots were 43-32 in favor of Prince George for the game.

The Birds go on to win in the shootout.

It would be a five rounder with Connor Sanvido and Colin Jacobs scoring for the Birds as Pickard made four out of five saves. Sanvido scored the tying goal in the fourth round and Jacobs scored the game winner in the fifth.

So back to back 5-4 victories in Prince George for the Birds. This one being a very big come from behind win after being down 3-0 and 4-2 as we continue to see this T-Bird team fight hard nearly every game and they never seem to consider themselves out of anything. Of course they still would rather have better starts and not need to come from behind. The best thing about these two games in Prince George is that the Birds could have easily lost both and they end up winning both instead.

The offense really woke up in these games in Prince George no doubt in part due to the Cougars shaky defense and goaltending. Hopefully it will carry over to their upcoming games against U.S. Division rivals that will take them into the Christmas break. Seattle still needs to tighten up defensively especially with Pickard now leaving for Team Canada camp.

The Birds next game will be Friday night in Tri-City against the Americans. Game time is 7 pm.

Game Notes:

– Seattle improves to 9-4-2-2 on the road.

– The Birds and Cougars combined for 18 goals in the two games.

– Tonight was the Birds 13th overtime game and 10th shootout contest. They lead the league in both.

– Seattle was 1 for 3 on the power play, Prince George was 0 for 4.

– F Justin Hickman remained out of the lineup due to an injury that occurred in Kelowna.

-Attendance at the CN Center was announced as 1,941.

Game Summary:

1st Period-1, Prince George, Acolatse 8 (Dobrowolski, Stefishen), 4:09. 2, Prince George, Inglis 13 (Bourke), 5:48. 3, Prince George, Fraser 6 (Asuchak, Smith), 13:07. 4, Seattle, Wells 6 (Lockhart, Gallimore), 18:22 (PP). 5, Seattle, Dillon 4 19:19. Penalties-Inglis P.g (holding), 8:41; Dillon Sea (roughing), 15:35; Ramsay Sea (roughing), 15:35; Inglis P.g (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:35; Buonassisi P.g (tripping), 17:45; Buonassisi P.g (10-minute misconduct), 18:22.

2nd Period-6, Prince George, Dobrowolski 8 (Stefishen, Marincin), 0:31. 7, Seattle, Noebels 10 (Lockhart), 19:07. Penalties-Pickard Sea (delay of game), 0:31; Inglis P.g (holding), 11:54.

3rd Period-8, Seattle, Wells 7 (Noebels, Lockhart), 13:25. Penalties-Lund Sea (high sticking), 6:03; Elliot Sea (tripping), 8:55.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Noebels Sea (high sticking), 1:16; Gibb P.g (holding), 1:16.

Shootout – Seattle 2 (Gallimore NG, Noebels NG, Wells NG, Sanvido G, Jacobs G), Prince George 1 (Acolatse NG, Connolly NG, Bourke NG, Buonassisi G, Inglis NG).

Shots on Goal-Seattle 13-7-11-1-1-33. Prince George 15-10-14-4-0-43.

Power Play Opportunities-Seattle 1 / 3; Prince George 0 / 4.

Goalies-Seattle, Pickard 13-8-2-4 (43 shots-39 saves). Prince George, Rimmer 6-4-0-1 (32 shots-28 saves).

A-1,941

Referees-Trent Knorr (42), Brett Montsion.

Linesmen-Adam Hyatt (16), Nathan Van Oosten (115).

mike.caccioppoli@yahoo.com