Winterhawks edge T-Birds in first meeting at ShoWare | WHL

For the Reporter

The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 2-1 Saturday night in their first visit to the ShoWare Center this season.

Seattle had won the previous three matchups between the division rivals this season, all of which were played in Portland. Seattle falls to 13-15-2-2 on the season. Portland is 18-14-0-3.

Taran Kozun started in net for the T-Birds. Kozun made 23 saves on 25 shots, taking his 10th loss of the season. Kozun is 12-10-2-2. In net for Portland was Brendan Burke, making his 18th appearance of the season. Burke made 34 saves on 35 shots. Burke improves to 7-7-0-3 overall this year.

In the second period, the Winterhawks scored the game’s first goal at 3:30 on a power play. Chase De Leo took a screened shot from a sharp angle in the faceoff circle that went over Kozun’s shoulder for the goal. Keoni Texeira and Blake Heinrich had the assists.

Keegan Kolesar tied the game at 6:15, scoring while Portland was down a man due to a delayed penalty. Ryan Gropp’s pass to a T-Bird in the slot went past untouched and found Kolesar instead, who was cutting to the net down the right wing. Kolesar fired a laser past Burke, making it 1-1. Ryan Gropp and Justin Hickman had the assists.

Hickman had a chance at the front of the net five minutes into the third period. A shot from the point hit Burke in the pads but the goaltender couldn’t cover it up as Hickman fought for it. The puck eventually trickled back out into the slot away from Hickman where Portland was able to take control. The T-Birds forecheck led to a steal and a shot from Ethan Bear that bounced off the crossbar on its way to the sideboards.

Scott Eansor nearly put Seattle up while shorthanded at 7:30. Eansor collected the puck after a clearance by the T-Birds hit a linesman. The speed of Eansor allowed him to circle around Portland’s defense and skate across goal, where his shot was poked away by Burke’s leg.

Miles Koules made it 2-1 Portland at 12:39.

Seattle went to six attackers and no goalie with 2:40 left in the game. A promising attack was snuffed out when the puck jumped over a Seattle stick at the blue line, an occurrence that repeated itself with 40 seconds left and helped Portland seal its victory.

T-Birds welcome a Seahawk

The last game before the holiday break is 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the ShoWare Center. The 2-for-Tuesday game will feature Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson dropping the ceremonial first puck.

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.

Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Bench, Seattle (too many men-served by Volcan), 19:09.

Second period – 1, Portland, De Leo 17 (Texeira, Heinrich), 3:30 (pp). 2, Seattle, Kolesar 10 (Gropp, Hickman), 6:15. Penalties – Spencer, Seattle (holding), 2:11. Overhardt, Portland (roughing), 4:01. Bear, Seattle (roughing), 4:01. Cederholm, Portland (cross-checking), 6:45. Ottenbreit, Seattle (tripping), 14:18. Weinger, Portland (tripping), 18:40.

Third period – 2, Portland, Koules 14 (Heinrich), 12:39. Penalties – Gropp, Seattle (high-sticking), 6:49.

Shots on goal – Seattle 12-11-12 35, Portland 8-5-12 25. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 25 shots-23 saves (12-10-2-2); Portland, Burke 35-34 (7-7-0-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Portland 1-4. A – 4,036. Referees – Brett Iverson, Mike Langin. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Ron Dietterle.