For the Reporter
The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 in a WHL game Saturday night at the Moda Center.
Portland went in front 1-0 at 17:04 of the first period on Jake Gricius’ power-play goal. Cody Glass and Jared Freadrich had the assists.
Seattle (2-1-0-0) tied the game 12 seconds into the second period. Noah Philp shot the puck into the Portland zone and goalie Shane Farkas went to play the puck behind the net. Nolan Volcan stole the puck from Farkas behind the net and attempted a wraparound shot. Volcan’s shot came to Zack Andrusiak to the left of the goal, hitting the empty net.
The Winterhawks took a 2-1 lead on Reece Newkirk’s power-play goal at 8:25 of the second.
Portland (1-2-1-0) received a seven-minute power play with 4:55 left in the second. The T-Birds got the second intermission on some great saves by goalie Liam Hughes. They entered the third period with 2:05 still on the penalty kill. Portland’s Jared Freadrich scored at 1:09 when his slap shot came off the end boards and deflected past Hughes.
Dillon Hamaliuk continue his hot start to the season by cutting the Winterhawks’ lead to one goal at the 10-minute mark of the third period. Andrej Kukuca tapped the puck to Hamaliuk behind the Portland goal, and Hamaliuk muscled his way to the top of the crease, beating Farkas on the glove side. He has scored in all three T-Birds games this season.
The assist was Kukuca’s first point as a T-Bird.
Hughes headed to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:20 left in the third period. Blichfeld was able to hit the empty net at 18:57 from the neutral zone to get Portland’s fourth goal.
Portland outshot Seattle 45-32 in the game.
Hughes record is 2-1-0-0 after stopping 41 of 44 shots.
Farkas had 30 saves on 32 shots, and his record is 1-2-1-0.
Upcoming
The T-Birds return to action at 7:35 p.m. Friday at Everett before coming home to Kent to play Kelowna at 6:05 p.m. Saturday at the accesso ShoWare Center.
Single-game tickets are on sale online 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, Portland, Gricius 2 (Glass, Frederick), 17:04 (pp). Penalties – Kolle, Por (slashing), 4:35. Hanus, Por (delay of game), 6:52. Harsch, Sea (slashing, major-fighting), 11:31. Blichfeld, Por (roughing, major-fighting), 11:31. Kukuca, Sea (interference), 12:55. McNelly, Sea (interference), 15:23.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Andrusiak 2 (Volcan, Philp), :12. 3, Portland, Newkirk 3 (Freadrich, Blichfeld), 8:25 (pp). Penalties – Hamaliuk, Sea (charging), 7:52. Quigley, Por (major-fighting), 9:02. Bryks, Sea (cross checking, major-fighting), 9:02. Blichfeld, Por (hooking), 9:34. Wedman, Sea (checking to the head), 12:08. McNelly, Sea (cross checking, major-fighting, game misconduct), 15:03. Philp, Sea (major-fighting), 15:03. Savey, Sea (major-fighting, game misconduct), 15:03. Dureau, Por (major-fighting), 15:03. Fromm-Delorme, Por (major-fighting, game misconduct), 15:03.
Third period – 4, Portland, Freadrich 1 (Glass, Blichfeld), 1:09 (pp). 5, Seattle, Hamaliuk 3 (Kukuca), 10:00. 6, Portland, Blichfeld 20 (Glass, Freadrich), 18:57 (en). Penalties – Hanus, Por (holding), 5:58. Ludvig, Por (cross checking), 11:13.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-11-10 32, Portland 16-15-14 45. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 44 shots-41 saves (2-1-0-0); Portland, Farkas 32-30 (1-2-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-5; Portland 3-7. A – 8,208. Referees – Jeff Ingram, Ryan O’Keeffe. Linesmen – Jarrod Bowman, Erik Freeman.
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