The Thunderbirds’ Donovan Neuls exults after scoring the game-winning, shootout goal against the Wheat Kings on Tuesday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse/T-Birds

The Thunderbirds’ Donovan Neuls exults after scoring the game-winning, shootout goal against the Wheat Kings on Tuesday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse/T-Birds

Streaking Thunderbirds harvest Wheat Kings in shootout

Andrusiak has goal, two assists in 6-5 win over Brandon | VIDEO

  • Wednesday, January 24, 2018 9:29am
  • Sports

The Seattle Thunderbirds came back from two goals down in the third period to defeat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 in a Western Hockey League shootout Tuesday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds stretched their winning streak to five games and have at least a point in 14 of their last 16 games.

The Wheat Kings were leading 5-3 when the T-Birds’ Dillon Hamaliuk scored at 12:29 of the third period. Noah Philp had the puck along the right-wing boards and put a shot on goal. Hamaliuk redirected the puck past Brandon goalie Logan Thompson as he went down to make the save on Philp’s shot. Zack Andrusiak had the second assist.

Andrusiak tied the game 5-5 with 1:14 left in the game with Dorrin Luding on the bench for an extra attacker. Austin Strand took a shot that rebounded off Thompson to Andrusiak to the right of the goal. Andrusiak snapped the rebound past the goalie high.

Philp, the T-Birds’ first shooter in the shootout, beat Brandon goalie Logan Thompson with a deke to his backhand. Stelios Mattheos, the Wheat Kings’ first shooter, was denied by a Dorrin Luding glove save. Strand, the T-Birds’ second shooter, beat Thompson through the legs. Ty Lewis, Brandon’s second shooter, beat Luding to keep the Wheat Kings in the game.

Donovan Neuls then skated at Thompson and beat the goalie over the left pad to send his teammates racing from the bench to mob him.

Luding had 24 saves in the game and his record is 8-10-1-0.

Brandon (28-15-3-2) took a 1-0 lead at 6:55 of the first period on a goal from Connor Gutenberg. Ty Lewis and Evan Weinger had the assists.

The Wheat Kings made it 2-0 when Ty Lewis redirected a Chase Hartje slap pass past T-Birds goalie Dorrin Luding. Weinger had the second assist.

Seattle (25-16-4-2) cut the Wheat Kings lead to one at 15:25 of the first. Neuls skated down the right wing with the puck. Neuls cut to the net and put a backhand shot on net. Neuls got his own rebound and slid the through Brandon goalie Logan Thompson’s leg. Jake Lee and Nolan Volcan had the assists.

Stelio Mattheos scored a shorthanded goal at 3:15 of the second to give Brandon a 3-1 lead. Linden McCorrister had the only assist.

The Wheat Kings went up 4-1 at 8:56 of the second on a power-play goal by McCorrister. Mattheos and Zach Wytinck had the assists.

The T-Birds started the comeback at 14:48 of the second. Sami Moilanen skated down the right wing with the puck. Moilanen stopped up and found Jake Lee at the left point. Lee skated into the left circle and put a hard wrist shot over Thompson’s blocker. Luding had the second assist with a pass to Moilanen.

Seattle cut the Brandon lead to one goal at 17:12 of the third. Andrusiak chased a Brandon defenseman behind his net and forced a turnover. Andrusiak got the puck and found Philp skating down the slot. Philp put puck over Thompson’s blocker for his 11th goal of the season.

The T-Birds outshot the Wheat Kings 13-6 in the second period and led 25-20 in shots after two periods.

Lewis got the two-goal lead back for Brandon at 4:53 of the third period with his second goal of the game. Schneider had the only assist.

Seattle outshot Brandon 9-8 in the third period and 40-29 in the game.

Thompson had 35 saves on 40 shots and his record is 23-13-1-2.

Up next: Silvertips

The T-Birds have a home-and-home series with the Everett Silvertips this weekend. The T-Birds are at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop Friday. They host the Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. Saturday before travelling to Kennewick to take on the Tri-City Americans for a 5:05 p.m. game Sunday.

T-Birds’ single-game tickets are on sale online and at the ShoWare Center box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Brandon, Gutenberg 15 (Lewis, Weinger), 6:55. 2, Brandon, Lewis 27 (Hartje, Weinger), 10:14. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (hooking), 2:09. Schneider, Brn (delay of game), 12:14. Higson, Brn (elbowing), 14:05. Wedman, Sea (hooking), 15:04.

Second period – 4, Brandon, Mattheos 32 (McCorrister), 3:15 (sh). 5, Brandon, McCorrister 14 (Mattheos, Wytinck), 8:56 (pp). 6, Seattle, Lee 3 (Moilanen, Luding), 14:48. 7, Seattle, Philp 11 (Andrusiak), 17:12. Penalties – Higson, Brn (high-sticking), 3:02. McCartney, Brn (tripping), 6:24. Huo, Sea (goaltender interference), 7:14. Lee, Sea (boarding), 19:01.

Third period – 8, Brandon, Lewis 28 (Schneider), 4:53. 9, Seattle, Hamaliuk 12 (Philp, Andrusiak), 12:29. 10, Andrusiak 22 (Strand), 18:46. Penalties – No penalties.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 3 (Philp G, Strand G, Neuls G). Brandon 1 (Mattheos NG Lewis G).

Shots on goal – Seattle 12-13-9-6-1 41, Tri-City 14-6-8-1-0 29. Goalies – Seattle, Luding 29 shots-24 saves (8-10-1-0); Brandon, Thompson 40-35 (23-13-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Brandon 1-4. A – 4,362. Referees – Adam Griffiths, Sean Raphael. Linesmen – Mark Heier, Nathan Van Oosten.


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.