Spokane slips past T-Birds, 4-3

The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 Tuesday night at the ShoWare Center.

This was the second of three consecutive games against the Chiefs, as the two teams play again at 7:05 p.m. today in Spokane.

The Chiefs (26-12-1-0) skated out to an early lead just 19 seconds into the game. Brendan Kichton scored on the power play to put Spokane in front 1-0, with Todd Fiddler and Reid Gow getting the assists.

Seattle (16-22-2-1) managed to tie the game with six seconds left in the first period on a rush up the ice. Jared Hauf got the puck in the neutral zone and moved it to Branden Troock skating up the right boards. Troock slid a pass to Shea Theodore in the slot who shot the puck low glove side past Spokane goalie Eric Williams for his eighth of the year.

The teams headed into the first intermission tied 1-1, with Spokane leading the shot count 16-7 after one.

Seattle took a 2-1 lead from a great individual effort by Mitch Elliot. He caused a turnover at the Spokane blue line and skated into the slot to rip a shot high past Williams’ glove. The unassisted goal came at 3:26 of the second and was Elliot’s second goal of the year.

Spokane tied the game 2-2 off an unassisted, shorthanded effort by Colin Valcourt. It was Valcourt’s 13th goal of the season and came at 7:22.

Seattle then scored to take a 3-2 lead at the 17:20 mark of the second. Brendan Rouse moved a loose puck in the neutral zone to Seth Swenson. Swenson skated in the offensive zone dropped the puck to Troock and skated to the net to set up a screen. Troock waited and let a shot rip that slid through Williams’ pads for his third goal of the year.

Spokane managed to tie the game once more at 3-3 through Mike Aviani’s 20th goal of the year. Todd Fiddler was given the assist on the goal coming at 19:07 of the second.

Shots for the second period were 13-13, with the score tied 3-3 heading into the final frame.

Spokane scored the final goal of the game at 6:12 of the third period. Liam Stewart scored an unassisted goal off a Seattle turnover in the T-Birds’ zone.

Shots in the third period were 10-8 Seattle, and ended 37-30 in favor of Spokane.

Spokane goaltender Eric Williams made 27 saves on 30 shots to improve his record to 20-10-1-0 on the year.

Seattlegoalie Brandon Glover made 33 saves on 37 shots and now posts an overall record of 15-17-2-1.

T-Birds single game tickets for the season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

T-Birds season tickets are on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Spokane, Kichton 12 (Fiddler, Gow), :19 (pp). 2, Seattle, Theodore 8 (Troock, Hauf), 19:54. Penalties – Glover, Sea (delay of game), :09. Elliot, Sea (interference), 10:38. Foulk, Sea (tripping), 14:39. Wray, Sea (fighting), 18:07. Smith, Spo (fighting), 18:07.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Elliot 2 (unassisted), 3:26. 4, Spokane, Valcourt 13 (unassisted), 7:22 (sh). 5, Seattle, Troock 3 (Swenson, Rouse), 17:20. 6, Spokane, Aviani 20 (Fiddler), 19:07. Penalties – Walchuck, Spo (interference), 15:40. Fiddler, Spo (high sticking), 15:13. Proft, Spo (fighting), 17:08. Sanvido, Sea (fighting), 17:08.

Third period – 7, Spokane, Stewart 9 (unassisted), 6:12. Penalties – Forsberg, Sea (tripping), 3:49. Aviani, Spo (holding), 10:03. Fram, Spo (delay of game), 16:30.

Shots on goal – Seattle 7-13-10 30, Spokane 16-13-8 37. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 37 shots-33 saves (15-17-2-1); Spokane, Williams 30-27 (20-10-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Spokane 1-4. A – 3,280. Referees – Ryan Benbow, Adam Griffiths. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Kevin Boris.