The Seattle Thunderbirds came back from a two-goal deficit Friday afternoon for a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Giants in their first game at the Delta Hotels Preseason Classic at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.
Lucas Ciona scored the game-winning goal 1:33 into the third period of the Western Hockey League game. Ciona forced a turnover at the Seattle blue line and chased the puck down the left wing. Ciona battled a Giants defenseman for the puck to create a two-on-one with Jaxan Kaluski. Ciona skated into the low slot from left to right and stopped up, as Vancouver goalie Drew Sim slid to his left, exposing a big portion of the net. Ciona deposited the puck into the net for his first goal of the preseason.
Classic play continues for the T-Birds on Saturday as they face the Tri-City Americans at 3 p.m. The Classic ends for the T-Birds on Sunday against the Everett Silvertips at 7 p.m.
Vancouver went in front 2-0 in the first period on a power-play goal from Justin Sourdif at 4:25 and a goal from John Little at 13:32.
Seattle cut the Vancouver lead to one at 15:12 of the second period on a power-play goal from Michael Horon. Tyrel Bauer passed the puck to Horon in the slot. Horon beat Vancouver goalie Drew Sim through the legs. Conner Bruggen-Cate had the second assist.
The T-Birds tied the game 2-2 1:27 after Horon’s goal. Jared Davidson got to a loose puck in the left circle and snapped it past Sim short side for his first of the preseason.
Vancouver pulled Sim with 1:33 left in the game. They had extended time in the Seattle zone but Brecon Wood iced the game with 13 seconds left when he hit the empty net.
Preseason play continues for the T-Birds at the Red Lion Hotels’ Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The T-Birds will begin the tournament on Friday, Sept. 6, against the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Tournament play will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a matchup against the Portland Winterhawks at 3 p.m.
The T-Birds wrap up preseason play with a home game against the Everett Silvertips on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7:05 p.m at accesso ShoWare Center.
The T-Birds start the 2019-20 Western Hockey League regular season against the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 6:05 p.m. at accesso ShoWare Center.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2019-20 regular season are on sale now online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Vancouver, Sourdif 1 (Little), 4:25 (pp). 2, Vancouver, Little 1, 13:32. Penalties – Williams, Sea (hooking), 4:06. Shepard, Van (roughing), 9:23. Ciona, Sea (slashing), 12:00. Alkhimov, Van (interference), 12:13. Ciona, Sea (checking from behind), 14:31. Wood, Sea (tripping), 19:10.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Horon 1 (Bauer, Bruggen-Cate), 15:12 (pp). 4, Seattle, Davidson 1, 16:39. Penalties – Thompson, Sea (kneeing), 2:23. Thompson, Sea (interference), 5:01. Camazzola, Van (boarding), 9:10. Shepard, Van (charging), 11:21. Ostapchuk, Van (holding), 14:27. Bateman, Sea (boarding), 18:26.
Third period – 5, Seattle, Ciona 1, 1:33. Penalties – Ciona, Sea (goaltender interference), 1:33. Popowich, Sea (high-sticking), 3:30. Thompson, Sea (charging), 10:18. Pentecost, Van (roughing), 13:24.
Shots on goal – Seattle 7-7-8 22, Vancouver 14-7-11 31. Goalies – Seattle, Milic 31 shots-29 saves (1-0-0-0); Vancouver, Sim 22-19 (0-1-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Vancouver 1-10. Referees – Troy Patterson, Connor Simmons. Linesmen – Michael Bean, Kacey Walker.
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