Editor’s note: I will be posting live tonight from the ShoWare Center when the Thunderbirds take on the Saskatoon Blades at 7:05 p.m. Check back at the website around 7 p.m.
The Seattle Thunderbirds got goals from Braeden Laroque, Chance Lund and Kyle Verdino Friday night to defeat the Vancouver Giants 3-2 at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The T-Birds take on the Saskatoon Blades at 7:05pm on Saturday at ShoWare Center.
Vancouver (4-4-0-1) took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by James Henry at 3:56 of the first period. Brendan Gallagher and Brett Kulak had the assists.
Seattle (2-3-0-0) tied the game 1-1 late in the first with a power-play goal of their own. Shea Theodore got the puck to Connor Sanvido in the left circle. Sanvido held the puck then sent it high to Laroque just inside the blue line at center ice. Laroque one-timed Sanvido’s pass with traffic in front of Vancouver goalie Adam Morrison. Laroque’s shot beat Morrison low for his first goal of the season.
Seattle outshot Vancouver 14-7 in the first period.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal by Lund at 4:13 of the second period. Theodore took a slap shot from center ice just inside the blue line with Justin Hickman in front of Morrison. Theodore’s shot missed the net on the left side, hit the end boards and rebounded back towards the slot. Morrison had moved to his right to make a save attempt but the rebound got past him and right to Lund in the slot. Lund slammed the puck into an empty net for his third goal of the year.
The Giants tied the game 2-2 at 12:04 of the second on a goal from Cain Franson. Greg Lamoureux had the only assist on the goal.
The T-Birds outshot the Giants 13-6 in the second period and led 27-13 in total shots after two periods.
Seattle went in front 3-2 at 16:53 of the third period on a goal by Verdino. Verdino collected the puck behind the Seattle net and carried it up ice. As he crossed the Vancouver blue line he passed the puck to Hickman. Hickman put a hard shot on goal that rebounded to Verdino in the left circle. Verdino snapped the rebound past Morrison high for his first goal of the year.
Seattle outshot Vancouver 10-6 in the third period and 37-20 in the game.
Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard stopped 18 of 20 shots and improved his record to 2-3-0-0.
Morrison made 34 saves on 37 shots and his record is now 3-2-0-1.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2011-12 season 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.
T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Vancouver, Henry (Gallagher, Kulak), 3:56 (pp). 2, Seattle, Laroque 1 (Sanvido, Theodore), 18:02. Penalties – Noebels, Sea (hooking), 1:22. Verdino, Sea (holding), 3:22. Hart, Van (holding opponents stick), 14:14. Vannieuwenheizen, Van (holding), 16:52.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Lund 3 (Theodore), 4:13 (pp). 4, Vancouver, Franson 2 (Lamoureux), 12:04. Penalties – Burns, Van (hooking), 3:31. Fenske, Van (hooking), 5:37. Elliot, Sea (major-fighting), 10:39. McNaughton, Van (major-fighting), 10:39.
Third period – 5, Seattle, Verdino 1 (Hickman), 16:53. Penalties – Verdino, Sea (kneeing), 10:50. Burns, Van (hooking), 17:46.
Shots on goal – Seattle 14-13-10 37. Vancouver 7-7-6 20. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 20 shots-18 saves (2-3-0-0); Vancouver, Morrison 37-34 (3-2-0-1). Power plays –Seattle 2-5; Vancouver 1-3. A – 6,213. Referee – Matt Kirk, Matt Thurston. Linesmen – Justin Hull, Jim Potts.
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