The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Saskatoon Blades 4-1 in a Western Hockey League game Tuesday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.
The T-Birds scored a goal in the first three minutes of each period and added an empty-net goal just before the final horn sounded.
Seattle (13-13-2-1) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead 2:19 into the first period. Noah Philp chipped the puck up the right wall of the T-Birds zone to Blake Bargar. Bargar put the puck off the wall to create a two-on-one break with Tyler Carpendale. Bargar’s pass across was blocked by a defenseman but he got the puck back and got it through to Carpendale. Carpendale slid the puck under Saskatoon goalie Nolan Maier for his third goal of the year.
Saskatoon (11-15-2-1) tied the game 1-1 at 13:23 of the first on a goal from Seth Bafaro. Kirby Dach had the only assist.
The Blades outshot the T-Birds 10-6 in the first period.
The T-Birds took the lead back at 2:57 of the second period. Turner Ottenbreit came off the right boards and took a shot. The puck came off Maier and hit Sami Moilanen in the leg and went into the net. Reece Harsch had the second assist on Moilanen’s 16th goal of the season.
Seattle outshot Saskatoon 17-3 in the second period and led 23-13 in shots after two periods.
Dillon Hamaliuk scored an unassisted goal at 1:25 of the third period to give the T-Birds a 3-1 lead. The teams were battling for the puck behind the Blades goal when it popped out to the left circle. Hamaliuk was in the high slot, skated to the puck and whipped shot on goal while turning around. It was Hamaliuk’s fifth goal of the year.
The Blades pulled Maier with 3:17 left in the game for an extra attacker. Saskatoon had good pressure and Matt Berlin made several solid saves. Blake Bargar hit the empty net just before the final horn to get the T-Birds final goal.
Seattle outshot the Blades 14-12 in the third period and 35-27 in the game.
Matt Berlin had 26 saves and his record is 3-5-0-0.
Maier had 34 saves and his record is now 3-5-0-0.
The T-Birds’ next game is Friday against the Tri-City Americans at 7:35 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.
Single-game tickets for the regular season are on sale at seattlethunderbirds.com and at the ShoWare box office. Season tickets may be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Carpendale 3 (Bargar, Philp), 2:19. 2, Saskatoon, Bafaro 2 (Dach), 13:23. Penalties – Neuls, Sea (tripping), 13:23.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Moilanen 16 (Ottenbreit, Harsch), 2:57. Penalties – Rubinchik, Sas (tripping), :23. Bench, Sas (too many men-served by Farren), 4:39.
Third period – 4, Seattle, Hamaliuk 4, 1:25. 5, Seattle, Bargar 5 (Volcan), 19:59. Penalties – Hebig, Sas (slashing), 6:08. McNelly, Sea (checking to the head), 9:48.
Shots on goal – Seattle 6-17-12 35, Saskatoon 10-3-14 27. Goalies – Seattle, Berlin 27 shots-26 saves (9-7-1-1); Saskatoon, Maier 34-31 (3-5-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Saskatoon 0-2. A – 4,003. Referees – Adam Griffiths, Ward Pateman. Linesmen – Mark Heier, Justin Nicol.
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