Nolan Volcan scored twice, including the game-winning goal in overtime, as the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Prince George Cougars 4-3 Wednesday night to sweep their first-round Western Hockey League playoff series in four games.
The T-Birds advance to play the rival Everett Silvertips, who swept the Portland Winterhawks 4-2 Wednesday night.
Game 1 against the Silvertips is 7:35 p.m. Friday at the ShoWare Center, with Game 2 at 5:50 p.m. Sunday, also on Kent ice.
At Prince George, Volcan scored the overtime goal 34 seconds into overtime. Mathew Barzal sent the puck from the right corner to Jerret Smith at the right point. Smith took a wrist shot that rebounded off Prince George goalie Ty Edmonds to Volcan to the left of the goal. Volcan snapped the rebound past Edmonds for his second goal of the game.
The T-Birds’ previous quickest overtime game-winning goal was 37 seconds by David Svagrovsky in a 2-1 Game 5 win against the Kootenay Ice on April12, 2003. That win clinched a 4-1 second-round series victory and advanced the T-Birds to the Western Conference finals.
Seattle goalie Landon Bow stopped 21 of 24 shots to get the win.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 4:30 of the first period on a Scott Eansor goal.
The T-Birds went in front 2-0 at 7:39 of the first on a breakaway goal from Volcan.
Prince George cut the T-Birds lead to 2-1 at 14:04 of the first on a goal from Jansen Harkins.
The Cougars made it a 2-2 game 11:07 of the second period when Chase Witala scored a four-on-four goal.
Jared Bethune scored a power-play goal at 13:41 of the second to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead.
Ethan Bear tied the game 3-3 with a power-play goal at 9:20 of the third period. Barzal held the puck along the left boards.
The T-Birds outshot the Cougars 14-7 in the third period and led 36-24 in shots after regulation.
The T-Birds outshot the Cougars 3-0 in overtime and 39-24 in the game.
Edmonds made 35 saves on 39 shots in the loss.
Tickets
Tickets for Games 1 and 2 go on sale at noon Friday. They can be ordered on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday game days at noon.
As a group special, fans who purchase 10 tickets to either Game 1 or Game 2 for $180 will receive two additional free tickets to the playoff game they choose. Fans can purchase the playoff special for Game 1 and Game 2 online or by calling the T-Birds at 253-239-PUCK (7825).
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Eansor 2 (Barzal, Holowko), 7:39. 2, Seattle, Volcan 1, 7:39. 3, Prince George, Harkins 2 (Morrison, Witala), 14:04. Penalties – Dosanjh, PG (slashing), 4:39. Tyszka, Sea (hooking), 15:25.
Second period – 4, Prince George, Witala 2 (Olson), 11:07. 5, Prince George, Bethune 1 (O’Brien, Olson), 13:41 (pp). Penalties – Leth, Sea (interference), 7:46. Morrison, PG (roughing), 10:21. Holowko, Sea (roughing), 10:21. Ottenbreit, Sea (roughing), 13:06.
Third period – 6, Seattle, Bear 2 (Barzal, Neuls), 9:20 (pp). Penalties – O’Brien, PG (tripping), 8:41.
Overtime – 7, Seattle, Volcan 2 (Smith, Barzal), :34. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 13-9-14-3 39, Prince George 7-10-7-0 24. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 24 shots-21 saves (4-0); Prince George, Edmonds 39-35 (0-4). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Prince George 1-3. A – 3,010. Referees – Ryan Benbow, Reagan Vetter. Linesmen – Chris Carlson, Ron Dietterle.
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