T-Birds lose shootout but gain a point in West playoff race

The Prince George Cougars defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 2-1 in a five-round shootout Friday night at the ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds gained a point in the Western Conference Playoff Standings and remain in seventh place with the shootout loss. They are now three points ahead of the eighth-place Everett Silvertips. The T-Birds and Tips meet at 7:05 tonight at the ShoWare.

The T-Birds are six points ahead of the ninth-place Prince George Cougars who have two games in hand on the T-Birds and Tips.

The T-Birds had a chance to win it in overtime when Prince George was called for a delay game penalty with 1:22 left in the extra period. They could not convert on the power play and the game went to the shootout.

Seattle elected to shoot first in the shootout and sent out Captain Luke Lockhart. Lockhart beat Prince George goalie Mac Engel with a move at the right post. Zach Pochiro was the Cougars first shooter and he beat Seattle goalie Brandon Glover with a backhand move over Glover’s blocker.

Connor Sanvido was the T-Birds second shooter. He stickhandled toward Engel but could not get a shot off as the puck rolled off his stick. Glover stopped the Cougars second shooter, Troy Bourke, with a left pad save.

Adam Kambeitz was the third T-Birds shooter. Engel made a glove save on Kambeitz’s backhand move. Glover denied Colin Jacobs who tried to go five-hole to send the shootout to sudden death.

Alexander Delnov was the T-Birds fourth shooter and he shot just wide right on his chance. Prince George sent Chase Witala out to win the game but Glover made the save by sliding to his right and using his pads.

Seth Swenson was the fifth Seattle shooter. Swenson shot wide on his attempt. Jake Mykitiuk was the fifth shooter for Prince George and he beat Glover with a backhand move over the glove to win the game for the Cougars.

Seattle(23-36-7-2) took a 1-0 lead at 15:30 of the first period on a power-play goal from Taylor Green. Seth Swenson moved the puck from the left wall to Riley Sheen in the left corner. Sheen centered the puck to Green at the blue line. Green put a wrist shot on goal that beat Engel over the blocker.

Seattle outshot Prince George 8-2 in the first period.

Prince George (20-38-2-6) tied the game 1-1 at 4:42 of the second period when Troy Bourke scored. Dan Gibb and Klarc Wilson had the assists on the tying goal.

The Cougars outshot the T-Birds 19-6 in the second period and led 21-14 in total shots after two periods.

The T-Birds outshot the Cougars 9-7 in the third period. The Cougars finished with a 31-27 advantage in shots.

Glover stopped 29 of 30 shots and his record is now 22-27-5-2.

Engel made 26 saves on 27 shots and his record is now 10-23-1-6.

T-Birds 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.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Green 2 (Sheen, Swenson), 15:30 (pp). Penalties – Smith, Sea (delay of game), 4:37. Roulston, PG (interference), 14:03.

Second period – 2, Prince George, Bourke 14 (Gibb, Wilson), 4:42. Penalties – Johnson, Sea (roughing), 5:20. Swenson, Sea (roughing), 5:20. Bolduc, PG (roughing), 5:20. Roulston, PG (roughing), 5:20. Foulk, Sea (roughing), 6:54. Lishchynsky, PG (roughing), 6:54. Wardley, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:11. Pochiro, PG (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:11. Smith, Sea (delay of game), 14:59. Bourke, PG (slashing), 16:35.

Third period – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – Bourke, PG (delay of game), 3:38.

Shootout – Prince George 2 (Pochiro G, Bourke NG, Jacobs NG, Witala NG, Mykitiuk G). Seattle 1 (Lockhart G, Sanvido NG, Kambeitz NG, Delnov NG, Swenson NG).

Shots on goal – Seattle 8-6-9-4-0 27, Prince George 2-19-7-2-1 31. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 30 shots-29 saves (22-27-5-2); Prince George, Engel 27-26 (10-23-1-6). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Prince George 0-2. A – 4,149. Referees – Derek Zalaski, Brett Iverson. Linesmen – Justin Hull, Nathan Van Oosten.