The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds by a score of 6-1 Jan. 23 at the ShoWare Center in Kent.
A ShoWare Center record crowd of 6,151 were in attendance for the T-Birds’ annual Teddy Bear Toss. The Thunderbirds collected 4,049 stuffed animals that will be distributed to children in times of emergency and crisis by the WARM 106.9 FM Teddy Bear Patrol.
Fans in attendance flooded the ice with teddy bears and stuffed animals after Prab Rai scored the T-Birds’ first goal at 5:44 of the second period.
Portland opened the scoring at 4:56 of the first period on Chris Francis’ 21st goal of the season. Seth Swenson and Taylor Aronson were credited with assists.
The Winterhawks extended their lead to 2-0 at 9:46 of the first period on Ty Rattie’s 9th goal of the season. Aronson registered the only assist.
Portland outshot Seattle 15-5 in the first period.
Rai’s power-play goal cut the lead to 2-1 at 5:44 of the second period. Defenseman Jeremy Schappert took a shot from the point that was deflected by Portland goalie Ian Curtis. The rebound bounced to Rai who was waiting at the bottom of the left circle. Rai put a wrist shot past a sprawling Curtis for his 26th goal of the season. Lindsay Nielsen was also credited with an assist.
Portland extended their lead to 3-1 at 12:14 of the second period on Luke Walker’s 19th goal of the season.
The Winterhawks took a 4-1 lead at 17:38 of the second period on a powerplay goal by Brad Ross, his 23rd goal of the season. Ryan Johansen and Joe Morrow were credited with assists.
Seattle outshot Portland 9-6 in the second period, but Portland still held the lead in total shots, 21-14.
Portland went ahead 5-1 at 6:33 of the third period on Rattie’s second goal of the game, his 10th of the season. Francis and Johansen assisted on the goal.
The Winterhawks added to their lead at 7:49 of the third on Seth Swenson’s first goal of the season. Francis was credited with the lone assist.
Seattle outshot Portland 16-15 in the final period, leaving Portland with a 36-30 advantage for the game.
Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard (12-22-4-4) made 30 saves on 36 shots.
Portland goalie Ian Curtis (17-7-1-1) faced 30 shots and made 29 saves to earn the victory.
The T-Birds travel to Kelowna on Wednesday to take on the Rockets at 7 p.m. On Friday, the T-Birds will be in Spokane to face the Chiefs at 7 p.m. and finish off their road trip in Portland where they will face the Winterhawks at 7:05 p.m. The T-Birds return to the ShoWare Center on Sunday, January 31 to face Kelowna at 5:05 p.m.
T-Birds’ single-game tickets for the 2009-10 season are available online at the T-Birds’ Web site 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.
T-Birds Group tickets are currently on sale. Group tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Portland, Francis 21 (Swenson, Aronson), 4:56. 2, Portland, Rattie 9 (Aronson), 9:46. Penalties – Walker, Por (goaltender interference), 5:31. Aronson, Por (interference), 12:19.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Rai 26 (Schappert, Nielsen), 5:44 (pp). 4, Portland, Walker 19, 12:14. 5, Portland, Ross 23 (Johansen, Morrow), 17:38 (pp). Penalties – Bench, Por (too many men – served by Niederreiter), 4:58. Elliot, Sea (goaltender interference), 16:24.
Third period – 6, Rattie 10 (Francis, Johansen), 6:33. 7, Swenson 1 (Francis), 7:49. Penalties – Boychuk, Por (roughing), 13:19. Morrow, Por (cross checking), 13:19. Jacobs, Sea (major-fighting), 18:14. Ross, Por (major-fighting), 18:14. Ramsay, Sea (major-fighting), 18:16. Ponich, Por (major-fighting), 18:16. Dillon, Sea (major- fighting), 18:43. Boychuk, Por (major-fighting), 18:43. Fleming, Sea (major-fighting), 20:00. Bennett, Por (major-fighting), 20:00.
Shots on goal – Seattle 5-9-16 30. Portland 15-6-15 36. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 36 shots-30 saves (12-22-4-4); Portland, Curtis 30-29 (17-7-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Portland 1-1. A – 6,151. Referee – Matt Kirk, Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Chris Carlson, Trent Knorr.
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