Rockets fly past T-Birds in shootout | WHL

The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night at the ShoWare Center in Kent. The loss puts Seattle’s record at 12-8-1-3, while Kelowna improves to 16-2-0-2.

The next game for the T-Birds is Friday against the Giants in Vancouver. Seattle will return home to play the Portland Winterhawks in Kent on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

Seattle’s first two shooters, Mathew Barzal and Branden Troock, scored in the shootout, but were stopped in the next three rounds. Justin Kirkland and Damon Severson scored shootout goals to send the shootout to sudden death. Kelowna’s Tyson Baillie won the game in the fifth round.

Danny Mumaugh stopped 47 of 50 shots in the game for the home team but went away with his third shootout loss of the season. Jackson Whistle was in net for Kelowna, and stopped 43 of 46 shots in his fourth win.

Kelowna’s forecheck controlled the early goings of the game. Neither team was able to generate offense for the first few minutes, with most of the game defined by possession battles in the Seattle zone. A few close calls for each team three minutes in marked the first real offense. The Rockets had a shot go off the crossbar before the game returned to a fight for control of the puck.

The first stoppage of play came six minutes into the first period after a long stretch of competitive play. This faceoff led to a golden Seattle chance when several rebounds around the net were turned aside by Whistle.

Jaimen Yakubowski was able to create a bit of a rush for the T-Birds, only to see his shot deflected above the glass. Seattle scored immediately off the attacking-zone faceoff. Ryan Gropp corralled the puck after a contentious faceoff and sent it home through a crowd of bodies for his second goal of the season. Scott Eansor had the only assist after winning the draw.

Kelowna had an odd-man rush with five minutes left in the period after a fight for the puck in Seattle’s offensive zone. Excellent lateral movement by Mumaugh put an end to the chance for the visitors, who ended up with nothing to show for it but a penalty. The Rockets’ top-rated penalty kill did the job, however, and Seattle was unable to extend their 1-0 lead.

Kelowna got a late power play and the end result was a Kelowna power play that tied the game. A shot from the blue line by Damon Severson found its way through traffic into the back of the net to make the score 1-1.

Shots were 14-10 in favor of the visitors after the first period.

The T-Birds were penalized almost immediately in the second period, going back on the kill just 15 seconds in. Pressure was no problem for Seattle even a man down: the home team outshot Kelowna 2-1 in the first minute and only gave up four shots total on the penalty before the game returned to even-strength hockey.

Seattle’s energy off the kill almost created a second goal when they were able to get numerous shots off while Whistle was lying on the ice. None were able to find the back of the net, however, and the game remained 1-1 after five minutes in the second period.

More attacking hockey from the T-Birds gave them their second power play of the game thanks to a dust up following a stoppage of play. No goal came for the home team on the advantage, as they were only able to get one shot on goal in the two minutes. The energy kept coming for Seattle even without a goal, and the home team began to create chances consistently.

Unfortunately for the T-Birds, Kelowna was given another power play when the puck went over the glass untouched. The Rockets didn’t waste the opportunity and took the lead. Ryan Olsen scored when the puck was thrown in front of the crease, with Rourke Chartier and Riley Stadel earning the assists on the power-play goal.

The home team didn’t let up en route to earning their third power play of the game. Whistle’s work in net made for rough going for the T-Birds, but the offense prevailed, tying the game 2-2. Lipsbergs put away the power-play goal off a rebound from Shea Theodore’s slap shot. The secondary assist went to Branden Troock.

Kelowna immediately came back with an attack of their own. The Rockets had numerous shots during a two-minute possession. Mumaugh stopped everything thrown at him, allowing the T-Birds to regain the puck and get out of the defensive zone.

The second period came to a close without any more scoring, leaving the game at 2-2 going into the final frame. Shots were 20-18 in Seattle’s favor in the period.

A goal came within 30 seconds of the third period’s beginning for Kelowna, giving them back the lead at 3-2. A barrage of shots from the visitors left Mumaugh bounding across the crease, only to have Madison Bowey’s shot from the point make it in.

Seattle responded with all sorts of pressure thanks in part to their fourth power play of the game. Just before the man advantage expired, the T-Birds tied the game back at 3-3. Alexander Delnov had the goal with just two seconds left on the advantage, with Adam Henry earning the assist.

The Rockets rushed down the ice, eager to respond, only to have Mumaugh shut down their attack once again. A scrum resulted in the crease thanks to a Kelowna player falling on the Seattle netminder, and both teams were given penalties to bring the game to 4-on-4. Open ice led to a speedy sequence that went without goals but not without excitement.

A major penalty to Lipsbergs put Seattle on the kill for five minutes halfway through the third period. Kelowna’s offense did everything they could to take the lead during the advantage, forcing the T-Birds into a defensive shell. Even with the relentless pressure, Seattle stayed strong. A cavalcade of clearances kept Kelowna off the board for the entirety of the major.

Just as the major expired, Seattle took a minor penalty to force their kill back onto the ice for another two minutes. The additional time meant nothing thanks to the T-Birds’ penalty killers, who continued to clear the puck almost as soon as it entered the zone.

No goals came in the rest of the period, sending the game to overtime tied 3-3. Kelowna outshot the home team 14-13 in the third.

The best chance of overtime went to the visiting team, who clanged a shot off of Mumaugh’s mask early on. An equally excellent chance came for Seattle in the last 30 seconds before they were denied by Whistle’s glove.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Gropp 2 (Eansor), 11:22. 2, Kelowna, Severson 6 (Merkley, Olsen), 19:42 (pp). Penalties – Nyberg, Kelowna (hooking), 14:36. Wardley, Seattle (roughing), 19:07.

Second period – 3, Kelowna, Olsen 6 (Chartier, Stadel), 10:28 (pp). 4, Seattle, Lipsbergs 13 (Theodore, Troock), 13:55 (pp). Penalties – Elliot, Seattle (high-sticking), :15. Rigby, Kelowna (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:26. Eansor, Seattle (delay of game), 10:01. Wheaton, Kelowna (kneeing), 11:58.

Third period – 5, Kelowna, Bowey 9 (Goulbourne, Martin), :23. 6, Seattle, Delnov 9 (Henry), 2:44 (pp). Penalties – Franko, Kelowna (high-sticking), :45. Lipsbergs, Seattle (roughing), 3:15. Merkley, Kelowna (roughing), 3:15. Lipsbergs, Seattle (major-checking from behind, game misconduct), 9:39. Hickman, Seattle (hooking), 15:02.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 2 (Barzal G, Troock G, Theodore NG, Delnov NG, Gropp NG). Kelowna 3 (Bell NG, Kirkland G, Severson G, Linaker NG, Baillie G).

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-20-13-3-0 46, Kelowna 14-18-14-4-1 51. Goalies – Seattle, Mumaugh 50 shots- 47 saves (6-4-1-3); Kelowna, Whistle 46-43 (4-2-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 2-4; Kelowna 2-5. A – 4,671. Referees – Derek Zalaski, Curtis Marouelli. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Kevin Boris.