Game 13: Pickard outstanding as Thunderbirds down Rebels
Nov 2, 2010, 10:04 PM | Updated: Apr 6, 2011, 11:23 am
(6-3-2-2)Seattle Thunderbirds 4, (11-6) Red Deer Rebels 1
Pickard makes 46 saves..Gallimore with two goals
KENT–The Seattle Thunderbirds picked up a much needed victory over the Red Deer Rebels as they head on their six game in eight days Eastern Conference swing. The did it behind stellar goaltending from Calvin Pickard as he stopped 46 of 47 shots.
The first power play of the game went to the Rebels as Brenden Dillon was called for hooking at 1:20. Seattle missed on a couple of clearing opportunities which allowed Red Deer to register four very dangerous shots with Pickard (6-3-2-2) making a couple of big saves to help kill off the penalty. After Red Deer registered the first nine shots, Marcel Noebels had a breakaway opportunity and Rebels goalie Bolton Pouliot (0-2) made the save. At 8:40 the Rebels would get another power play when Travis Toomey was called for boarding. The Rebels did not get a shot on net on their second power play. Just seconds after the kill, the Thunderbirds went on the power play for the first time when Lane Scheidl was called for boarding at the 10:56 mark. The Birds got off one shot on the man advantage before Red Deer killed it off.
With the Birds unable to generate much offense the Rebels were able to draw another penalty as Scott Ramsay was called for hooking at 15:08. The Birds did a good job in blocking shots, especially Luke Lockhart who took a wicked shot to his leg and the penalty was effectively killed off. Right after though, the Rebels had a great opportunity out in front of the net as the Birds defense didn’t clear out the puck and a shot went right off the crossbar. A scrum after the whistle behind the Rebels bench ended with a brawl between Mitch Elliot and Colin Archer which lasted for about a full minute before the two separated.
The period was scoreless mostly due to the exceptional play of Pickard. The Rebels controlled the play and out shot the Birds 18-4.
The Rebels went on their fourth power play at 2:34 of the second period. They had a couple of shots on net as the Birds killed off the penalty. Seattle went on the power play for the second time as Byron Froese was called for checking from behind. Several seconds into the power play the Birds got a five on three advantage when Justin Weller was called for delay of game at 7:33. Burke Gallimore (8) slapped a shot past Pouliot to put the Birds up 1-0 at 8:08. The goals was assisted by Noebels and Colin Jacobs. At 14:15 the Thunderbirds went up 2-0 as some hard work in front of the Rebels net paid off when Jacobs (5) squeaked one past Pouliot who just missed making the save with his stick as the puck went behind him. Assists were given to Tyler Alos and Noebels.
The Thunderbirds would take a 2-0 lead into the third period. Shots in the second were 15-6 in favor of Red Deer and 33-10 after the first 40 minutes.
Just 1:55 into the third period Jacobs was called for delay of game. Rob Sumner argued the call but to no avail and the Rebels went on their fifth power play. “I’m not going to get too caught up in the penalties tonight”, said Sumner, “We took some early an dgot into some trouble but as the game went on I disagreed with some of the calls, but that’s the way ot goes.” The Birds killed it off rather easily to get back to five on five play. Gallimore (9) put the Birds up 3-0 at 9:06 as he weaved through traffic and wristed a beautiful shot past Pouliot. The goal was unassisted. It was Gallimore’s second goal of the game. The teams went four on four at 12:22 when Jacobs was hooked down and called for unsportsmanlike conduct for diving. When Dave Sutter was called for roughing it put the Rebels on a four on three power play and they converted to get on the board as the Birds lead was cut to 3-1. Mathew Dumba (3) got the goal.
The Rebels pulled their goalie with just over two minutes left to get the extra skater on the ice. Charles Wells (3) put the game away as he shot the puck into the empty net to put the Birds up 4-1. It was assisted by Travis Bobbee.
Despite being out shot 47-17 in the game, behind the once again outstanding play of Pickard, and a few timely goals, the Birds were able to capture two points. “Lately my rebound control had been good and the results have been good the last couple of games” said Pickard.”We have really cut down on giving up good scoring chances, stressing keeping shots from the outside and it’s paying off.” The Birds were able to take advantage of the 16 year old backup goalie of the Rebels by scoring four goals on only 17 shots.
When talking about the quantity of shots allowed and the play of Pickard in net Sumner said, “He plays well most nights, so it’s nothing new. We were a little sloppy in the neutral zone, we need to clean up our neutral zone and play a little smarter, get pucks deeper..the territorial play.”
The newly formed line of Noebels, Jacobs and Alos had a big night and Sumner spoke about the line changes over the last couple of games. “We have to start developing more offense. Just to shake things up and try a few combinations. Nothing is set in stone. We will see what happens once we get some bodies back.”
The Birds now head on their eastern swing and with the six games in eight days Michael Salmon may be getting some work between the pipes. “We’ll have to see how it goes, but there’s certainly a high percentage chance of that happening” said Sumner. “I think it will be healthy for our team to play more games (in a short period). It helps you develop a style of play (that is tough to do with the long breaks between games).”
The Thunderbirds next game, the first of six in Central Canada, will be in Brandon, Manitoba on Saturday night at 5:30 pm.
Game Notes:
– D Erik Fleming remained out with an MCL sprain. He is listed as week to week. F Branden Troock is still listed as week to week with an illness. F Justin Hickman (fractured hand) is on the mend and should make his regular season debut sometime during the eastern swing.
– The Thunderbirds now have points in 10 of their first 13 games.
– The Birds home record stands at 3-1-1-1.
– Attendance at the ShoWare Center was announced as 2,725.
Game Summary:
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Dillon Sea (hooking), 1:20; Toomey Sea (boarding), 8:40; Scheidl R.d (boarding), 10:56; Ramsay Sea (hooking), 15:08; Archer R.d (major-fighting), 18:54; Siwak R.d (roughing), 18:54; Elliot Sea (major-fighting), 18:54; Toomey Sea (roughing), 18:54; Froese R.d (roughing), 19:16; Lund Sea (roughing), 19:16.
2nd Period-1, Seattle, Gallimore 8 (Noebels, Jacobs), 8:08 (PP). 2, Seattle, Jacobs 5 (Alos, Noebels), 14:15. Penalties-Petrovic R.d (roughing), 2:34; Doty Sea (roughing), 2:34; Sanvido Sea (cross checking), 2:34; Froese R.d (checking from behind), 7:05; Weller R.d (delay of game), 7:33.
3rd Period-3, Seattle, Gallimore 9 9:06. 4, Red Deer, Dumba 3 (Petrovic, Nugent-Hopkins), 13:17 (PP). 5, Seattle, Wells 3 (Bobbee), 19:20 (EN). Penalties-Jacobs Sea (delay of game), 1:55; Froese R.d (hooking), 12:22; Jacobs Sea (usc diving), 12:22; Siwak R.d (roughing), 12:54; Sutter Sea (roughing, roughing), 12:54.
Shots on Goal-Red Deer 18-15-14-47. Seattle 4-6-7-17.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 1 / 6; Seattle 1 / 3.
Goalies-Red Deer, Pouliot 0-2-0-0 (16 shots-13 saves). Seattle, Pickard 6-3-2-2 (47 shots-46 saves).
A-2,725
Referees-Brett Iverson (24), Jeff Ingram.
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), David Tise (119).
