The Seattle Thunderbirds clawed back from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the game midway through the second period, but eventually fell to the Portland Winterhawks 6-2 on Saturday evening in Portland.

The Winterhawks (32-20-1-1) took a 1-0 lead at 19:30 of the first period with Ryan Johansen’s 18th goal of the season. Chris Francis and Taylor Aronson earned the assists.

Francis gave the Winterhawks a 2-0 lead at 6:27 of the second period The T-Birds (14-30-4-4) answered with two goals one minute apart to tie the game 2-2 midway through the second period.

Prab Rai started the T-Bird scoring with his 29th goal of the season at 8:35.

Burke Gallimore tied the game at 9:39 of the period, but it was too little too late.

SATURDAY’S SCORING SUMMARY

First period: 1, Portland, Johansen 18 (Francis, Aronson), 19:30 (sh). Second period: 2, Portland, Francis 23 (Walker), 6:27. 3, Seattle, Rai 29 (Wells, Bonsor), 8:35. 4, Seattle, Gallimore 17 (Dillon, Silvester), 9:39. 5, Portland, Aronson 3 (Johansen, Neiderreiter), 10:06. 6, Portland, Sbisa 2 (Doyle, Francis), 14:05 (pp). Third period: 7, Portland, Rutkowski 8 (Walker, Rattie), 14:11. 8, Portland, Walker 21 (Francis, Doyle), 15:58 (pp). Penalties: Jacobs, Sea (tripping), 9:37. Schappert, Sea (hooking), 15:31. Jacobs, Sea (roughing), 18:16. Schneider, Por (roughing), 18:16. Shots on goal: Seattle 13-11-7 31. Portland 15-13-13 41. Goalies: Seattle, Salmon 41 shots-35 saves (0-3-0-0); Portland, Carruth 31-29 (4-7- 0-0). Power plays: Seattle 0-2; Portland 2-4. A: 10,907.

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