T-Birds fall to Hitmen 3-2 | WHL

For the Reporter

The Calgary Hitmen defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in Western Hockey League action at the ShoWare Center on Tuesday night.

The loss makes Seattle 9-2-1-0 in its last 12 games and 31-22-3-4 overall this season. Calgary is now 37-18-1-4.

Taran Kozun’s 29 saves on 32 shots weren’t enough to earn the victory, dropping his season record to 28-16-3-3. Mack Shields (24-14-0-2) made 18 saves on 20 shots for Calgary.

The first Seattle power play of the game ended with its first goal as well. Ethan Bear’s point shot went high over Shields’ shoulder and ended up top shelf for his 12th goal of the season. Ryan Gropp and Keegan Kolesar earned the assists after working the puck up the boards to Bear.

Calgary outshot Seattle 11-6 in the first period. Faceoffs were 10-7 Calgary.

Jake Virtanen tied the game at 1:21 after stealing the puck in the offensive zone.

The Hitmen took the lead on a Chase Lang goal at 5:47.

Terrell Draude made it 3-1 Calgary just two and a half minutes into the third. The T-Birds were unable to get the puck out and lost control of it in the middle of the zone, where Carsen Twarynski took control. Twarynski skated to the side of the net to force Kozun to follow him before passing to Draude in the slot. It was Draude’s 10th goal of the season.

Kozun left his net with 2:30 left in the game. The extra attacker was enough to help the T-Birds get on the offensive and add one goal when Roberts Lipsbergs scored on a one-timer from the slot. Mathew Barzal held the puck deep in the faceoff circle and passed only when a Calgary defender committed to the block, giving Lipsbergs enough time to get his shot off even as he fell to the ice. Shea Theodore had the secondary assist on the goal that made it 3-2 with just one minute left for Seattle to tie it up. Calgary held on from there to seal the victory.

The T-Birds will stay at home for a game against the Prince George Cougars at 7:35 p.m. Friday. Seattle hosts the Portland Winterhawks at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets 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.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Bear 12 (Gropp, Kolesar), 18:22 (pp). Penalties – Khaira, Seattle (elbowing), 8:25. Wardley, Seattle (checking from behind), 9:23. Karnaukhov, Calgary (hooking), 17:38.

Second period – 2, Calgary, Virtanen 17 (unassisted), 1:21. 3, Calgary, Lang 24 (Tambellini, Bean), 5:47. Penalties – Rankin, Calgary (tripping), 1:40. Kanzig, Calgary (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:57. Wardley, Seattle (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:57. Ta. Sanheim, Calgary (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:55.Eansor, Seattle (hooking), 9:55. Kanzig, Calgary (roughing), 20:00. Harmsworth, Calgary (roughing), 20:00. Virtanen, Calgary (roughing), 20:00. Eansor, Seattle (roughing), 20:00. Hauf, Seattle (roughing), 20:00.

Third period – 4, Calgary, Draude 10 (Twarynski), 2:35. 5, Seattle, Lipsbergs 10 (Barzal, Theodore), 19:00. Penalties – Wardley, Seattle (elbowing), 9:58.

Shots on goal – Seattle 6-7-7 20, Calgary 11-12-9 32. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 32 shots-29 saves (28-16-3-3); Calgary, Shields 20-18 (24-14-0-2). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Calgary 0-3. A – 5,137. Referees – Dexter Rasmussen, Jeff Ingram. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Aaron Mills.