Seattle’s Zack Andrusiak. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

Seattle’s Zack Andrusiak. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

Andrusiak leads Thunderbirds to shootout win over Winterhawks

Left wing scores 2 goals in regulation and game winner in Portland

  • Saturday, March 3, 2018 9:15am
  • Sports

For the Reporter

Left wing Zack Andrusiak scored two goals in regulation and winning shootout goal to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-4 WHL win over the Portland Winterhawks at Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday night.

The T-Birds (30-24-7-2) are six points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. The T-Birds have three games in hand on the Blazers. They are three points behind the Tri-City Americans for the first wild-card playoff spot.

In the shootout, Portland elected to go first and sent out Kieffer Bellows. Seattle goalie Liam Hughes made a right pad save on Bellows. Noah Philp, the T-Birds’ first shooter, went backhand, forehand and snuck the puck past Portland goalie Cole Kehler at the right post. Initially, the referees waved no goal but went to video review. After a few minutes the referees indicated Philp’s attempt was a good goal.

Hughes stopped Portland’s second shooter, Joachim Blichfeld, with a stick save, while Kehler stopped Austin Strand.

Cody Glass, the third Portland shooter, beat Hughes through the legs, and Kehler made a save on Donovan Neuls.

Hughes made a right pad save on Dennis Cholowski, the fourth Portland shooter. Andrusiak came over the boards as the fourth Seattle shooter. Andrusiak skated toward Kehler and snapped a wrist shot over the glove to win the game and send his teammates racing from the bench to mob him.

Hughes finished the game with 36 saves and improves his record to 12-10-4-1.

Seattle opened the scoring at 14:27 of the first period. Philp knocked down a Portland pass in the Seattle zone to create a two-on-one break with Andrusiak. Philp skated down the left wing, faked a wrist shot and then slid the puck over to Andrusiak in the right circle. Andrusiak put the puck past Kehler, sprawling to try and make the save. The goal was Andrusiak’s team-leading 28th of the season.

Portland (38-20-1-4) tied the game 1-1 at 17:17 of the first on a goal from Ty Kolle.

Andrusiak struck at 2:13 of the second period to give the T-Birds a 2-1 lead. Neuls carried the puck down the left wing and from the low left circle crossed the puck through the slot to Andrusiak at the back door. Andrusiak had a lot of net to shoot and buried the puck for his second goal of the game.

Neuls made it a 3-1 lead at 8:19 of the second. Andrusiak sent the puck low behind the Portland net to Philp, who came out from behind the net at the left post and centered the puck to Neuls in the slot. Neuls first shot was stopped by Kehler, but he put back the rebound for his 21st goal of the season.

The Winterhawks tied the game 3-3 with two goals in six seconds midway through the third period. Glass scored on the power play at 9:47 and Blichfeld scored at 9:53.

Portland took a 4-3 lead at 12:31 of third on a goal from Ryan Hughes. Glass and Bellows had the assists.

The T-Birds tied the game 4-4 on a scramble goal at 15:58 of the third. Turner Ottenbreit took a slap shot the Kehler stopped. The puck lay in the crease and Andrusiak got a stick on it. After several seconds the puck popped out to the right of Kehler. Philp skated to the puck, spun around and took a wrist shot with Kehler on the ice. Philp’s shot hit the top right corner to tie the game.

Portland finished the game with a 40-37 advantage in shots.

Kehler’s record is 25-15-1-4 after making 33 saves.

Back to Everett, then home

The T-Birds travel to Everett to take on the Silvertips at Angel of the Winds Arena at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. They return to accesso ShoWare Center on Sunday to play the Winterhawks at 5:05 p.m. The Sunday game is being broadcast on JOEtv Channel 22/Cable 110.

Order tickets on the T-Birds website or drop by the ShoWare box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Andrusiak 28 (Philp), 14:27. 2, Portland, Kolle (Hughes, Jokiharju), 17:17. Penalties – Glass, Sea (hooking), 12:09.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Andrusiak 29 (Neuls), 2:13. 4, Seattle, Neuls 21 (Philp, Andrusiak), 8:19. Penalties – Huo, Sea (delay of game), 10:03. Overhardt, Por (interference), 15:06.

Third period – 5, Portland, Glass 31 (Jokiharju, Cholowski), 9:47 (pp). 6, Portland, Blichfeld 22 (Texeira, Overhardt), 9:53. 7, Portland, Hughes 15 (Glass, Bellows), 12:31. 8, Seattle, Philp 13 (Andrusiak, Ottenbreit), 15:58. Penalties – Quigley, Por (boarding), 10:15.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 2 (Philp G, Strand NG, Neuls NG, Andrusiak NG). Portland 1 (Bellows NG, Blichfeld NG, Glass G, Cholowski NG).

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-12-14-2-1 38, Portland 14-15-10-1-0 40. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 40 shots-36 saves (12-10-4-1); Portland, Kehler 37-33 (26-15-1-4). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Portland 1-1. A – 6,124. Referees – Tyler Adair, Duncan Brow. Linesmen – Michael Labbe, Brett Mackey.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Mason St. Louis battles for a loose ball. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood boys basketball keeps hot streak alive

Conks are winners of seven of their last eight games this season.

Sebastian Arius brings the ball up the floor for Auburn Mountainview in a Dec. 17 game vs. Federal Way High School. Ben Ray / Sound Publishing
Holiday sports: Here’s what I’m watching | Bench Talk with Ben Ray

The NBA slate of games was the thing to watch on Christmas. But now the NFL wants some of the action, with two games on the docket Christmas Day.

Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Sawyer Mynio is part of the Canada National Junior Team competing in the IHHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kent-based Thunderbirds’ Sawyer Mynio makes Canada National Junior Team

Team competes Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in World Junior Championships

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Dayna Vi (Jr.) wrestling and Brandon Tagle (Jr.) basketball take home this weeks awards.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Senior running back Antoine Lee avoids a Trojan defender early in the game against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Reporter
4A NPSL all-league football teams announced

Kentwood’s Antoine Lee named Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Addison Stendera and Riley Tricas take home this weeks awards.

Makenna Bennett in action against Tahoma back on Oct. 22 at Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer advances to state

Chargers make state for second consecutive year, take on Wenatchee.