Thunderbirds shut out Winterhawks 4-0

PORTLAND – Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard made 20 saves against the Portland Winter Hawks Saturday night in Portland to lead to the T-Birds to a 4-0 shutout win.

Pickard stopped eight shots in the first period, seven shots in the second period and five shots in the third period to get his first WHL win and first WHL shutout. Pickard’s record is now 1-3-0-0.

The T-Birds stay on the road to and finish out the weekend against the Chilliwack Bruins at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday at Prospera Centre.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 4:24 of the first period on the fourth goal of the year by Prab Rai. Jim O’Brien and David Richard had the assists.

Seattle outshot Portland 9-8 in the second period.

The T-Birds took a 2-0 lead early in the second period just after a power play ended. Jeremy Boyer brought the puck off the left boards and curled towards to high slot. He put a wrist shot on goal that Portland goalie Kurtis Mucha stopped but the puck rebounded to Lindsay Nielsen to the right of the goal. Nielsen beat Mucha through the goalie’s legs at 1:59 of the period. Brenden Dillon had the second assist on the goal.

Greg Scott put the T-Birds up 3-0 at 14:35 of the second when he scored on a shorthanded breakaway. Richard intercepted a pass in the Seattle zone just inside the blue line. Richard hit Scott with a pass at center ice to send him in alone on Mucha. Scott beat Mucha over the glove for his first goal of the season.

The T-Birds held a 24-15 advantage in shots on goal after two periods by outshooting the Winter Hawks 15- 8 in the second period.

Seattle (2-6-0-0) took a 4-0 lead at 17:07 of the third period. O’Brien sent the puck to Dillon at the right point. Dillon put a slap shot on goal that Mucha stopped. The puck rebounded to Rai to the right of Mucha. Rai put the puck past Mucha high for his second goal of the night.

Seattle outshot Portland (1-6-0-0) 7-5 in the third period and 31-20 in the game.

Mucha made 27 saves on 31 shots and his record is now 0-4-0-0.

The T-Birds’ next home game is Oct. 18 against the Kelowna Rockets at KeyArena. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825. Purchasing a season ticket will ensure fans can attend the T-Birds first game in their new home, the Kent Events Center.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Rai 4 (O’Brien, Richard), 4:24. Penalties – Chaffin, Sea (high- sticking), 5:13. Bobbee, Por (interference), 7:10. Walker, Por (tripping), 19:54.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Nielsen 2 (Boyer, Dillon), 1:59. 3, Seattle, Scott 1 (Richard), 18:28 (sh). Penalties – Rai, Sea (holding) 3:55. Haas, Sea (roughing), 11:58. Ross, Por (holding), 11:58. Cloud, Sea (holding), 14:02. Ross, Por (roughing), 14:35.

Third period – 4, Seattle, Rai 5 (Dillon, O’Brien), 17:07. Penalties – Kerr, Por (interference), 2:04. Acolatse, Sea (cross checking), 4:41. Cloud, Sea (roughing), 4:41. Walker, Por (roughing), 4:41. Ponich, Por (roughing), 17:33. LeBlanc, Sea (major-fighting), 19:43. Ross, Por (major-fighting), 19:43. Ponich, Por (major-fighting), 19:45. Acolatse, Sea (major-fighting), 19:45. Walker, Por (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Rutkowski, Por (major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Ridgeway, Por (major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Gabriel, Por (major- fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Watt, Por (major- fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Chaffin, Sea (major-fighting), 20:00. Haber, Sea (major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Haas,Sea, (major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Edwards, Sea (major- fighting, game misconduct), 20:00. Lund, Sea (major- fighting, game misconduct), 20:00.

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-15-7 31. Portland 8- 7-5 20. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 20 shots-20 saves (1-3-0-0); Portland, Mucha 31-27 (0-4-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-5; Portland 0-4. A – 3,301. Referee – Adam Byblow, Devin Klein. Linesmen – Trevor Boudreau, Chris Sweeting.