T-Birds bag Cougars in Dec. 4 shootout

The Seattle Thunderbirds came back from a three-goal deficit Dec. 4 at the CN Centre to defeat the Prince George Cougars 5-4 in a five-round shootout.

The game was tied 4-4 after 65 minute of play to send the game to a shootout.

The Cougars elected to shoot first in the shootout. Former T-Bird Sena Acolatse was the first Prince George shooter. Acolatse tried to beat Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard five-hole but Pickard stopped him. Burke Gallimore was Seattle’s first shooter and his shot was stopped by Prince George goalie Ty Rimmer.

Brett Connolly stepped up for the Cougars in the second round but was denied by Pickard. Marcel Noebels was Seattle’s second shooter. He came down on Rimmer but lost control of the puck in the slot and was not able to get a shot off.

Troy Bourke was the Cougars third shooter. He stick handled the puck as he came down on Pickard. Pickard went down and Bourke pushed the puck past the net to Pickard’s right. Charles Wells, who scored two goals in regulation, had the chance to win the game but Rimmer stepped up and stopped the speedy right wing.

With neither team scoring in the first three rounds the shootout went to sudden death. Nick Buonassisi was the Cougars fourth shooter and he beat Pickard with a backhand shot over the glove. Connor Sanvido was next up for Seattle and he had to score to keep Seattle alive. Sanvido came down on Rimmer and surprised the goalie with a quick snap shot from the hash marks in the slot. Sanvido’s shot beat Rimmer low on the stick side as the goalie did not move.

Charles Inglis was the fifth shooter for Prince George. Inglis made a move to his right but Pickard slid over and denied him at the right post. Colin Jacobs was the fifth Seattle shooter and he came on to the ice with the chance to win the game for Seattle. Jacobs came down on Rimmer and beat the goalie with a wrist shot over the glove to give the T-Birds a 2-1 win in the shootout.

This was the second of back-to-back games in Prince George between the two teams. The T-Birds defeated the Cougars 5-4 on Friday night behind a hat trick from Jacobs.

Prince George (15-11-2-1) took a 1-0 lead at 4:09 of the first period on a goal by Acolatse. James Dobrowolski and Taylor Stefishen were credited with the assists.

The Cougars went in front 2-0 at 5:48 of the first on a goal from Inglis. Bourke had the only assist on the goal.

Prince George extended their lead to 3-0 at 13:07 of the first on a goal from Greg Fraser. Spencer Asuchak and Joshua Smith had the assists on the goal.

Seattle (13-8-3-4) got on the board at 18:22 of the first when Wells scored a power-play goal. Gallimore carried the puck up the left boards and at the top of the left circle cut toward the high slot. Gallimore sent the puck to Luke Lockhart on the goal line to left of Rimmer. Lockhart centered the puck to Wells on top of the crease. Wells tipped Lockhart’s pass over Rimmer for his sixth goal of the year.

Brenden Dillon scored an unassisted goal at 19:19 of the first to cut the Cougars lead to one. Dillon got to a loose puck in neutral zone, curled through the Seattle zone and then headed up ice. Dillon skated through two Cougars defenders and entered the Prince George zone. At the top of the left circle Dillon put a hard wrist shot on goal that beat Rimmer over the glove. It was Dillon’s fourth goal of the year.

Prince George outshot Seattle 15-13 in the first period.

James Dobrowolski scored 31 seconds into the second period to put the Cougars in front 4-2. Stefishen and Martin Marincin had the assists.

The T-Birds scored at 19:08 of the second to cut the Cougars lead to one goal. Lockhart carried the puck up the right boards and into the Prince George zone with Noebels on his left. Lockhart centered the puck to Noebels as he came down the slot. Noebels, a left-hand shot, redirected Lockhart’s pass over Rimmer’s blocker and into the left corner of the net for his 10th goal of the year.

The Cougars led 25-20 in shots on goal after 40 minutes of action.

Some hard work by the line of Wells, Noebels and Lockhart tied the game 4-4 at 13:25 of the third period. The trio cycled the puck in the right corner several times. Noebels then brought the puck out of the corner and tried to jam the puck in at the right post. Rimmer made the save but the puck lay in the crease. Wells followed up Noebels attempt and poked the puck under the Price George goalie for his second goal of the night.

Prince George outshot Seattle 14-11 in the third period and led 39-31 in total shots after 60 minutes.

The Cougars outshot the T-Birds 4-1 in overtime and 43-33 in the game.

Pickard made 39 saves on 43 shots and his record improves to 13-8-2-4.

Rimmer stopped 28 of 32 shots and his record is 6-4-0-1.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Prince George, Acolatse 8 (Dobrowolski, Stefishen), 4:09. 2, Prince George, Inglis 13 (Bourke), 5:48. 3, Prince George, Fraser 6 (Asuchak, Smith), 13:07. 4, Seattle, Wells 6 (Lockhart, Gallimore), 18:22. 5, Seattle, Dillon 4, 19:19. Penalties – Inglis, PG (holding), 8:41. Ramsay, Sea (roughing), 15:35. Inglis, PG (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:35. Dillon, Sea (roughing), 15:35. Buonassisi, PG (tripping), 17:45. Buonassisi, PG (10-minute misconduct), 18:22.

Second period – 6, Prince George, Dobrowolski 8 (Stefishen, Marincin), :31. 7, Seattle, Noebels 10 (Lockhart), 19:08. Penalties – Pickard, Sea (delay of game-served by Alos), :31. Inglis, PG (holding), 11:54.

Third period – 8, Seattle, Wells 7 (Noebels, Lockhart), 13:25. Penalties – Lund, Sea (high-sticking), 6:03. Elliot, Sea (tripping), 8:55.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – Gibb, PG (holding), 1:16. Noebels, Sea (high-sticking), 1:16.

Shootout – Seattle 2 (Gallimore NG, Noebels NG, Wells NG, Sanvido G, Jacobs G). Prince George 1 (Acolatse NG, Connolly NG, Bourke NG, Buonassisi G, Inglis NG).

Shots on goal – Seattle 13-7-11-1-1 33. Prince George 15-10-14-4-0 43. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 43 shots-39 saves (12-8-2-4); Prince George, Rimmer 32-28 (6-4-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Prince George 0-4. A – 1,941. Referee – Trent Knorr, Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Adam Hyatt, Nathan Van Oosten.