Keegan Kolesar scored at 1:07 of overtime to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 4-3 victory over the Kamloops Blazers in a Western Hockey League game Tuesday night at the ShoWare Center.
The T-Birds, riding a six-game winning streak, have won 12 of their last 13 games. They moved into second place in the U.S. Division, one point ahead of the Tri-City Americans. The T-Birds are six points behind the first-place Everett Silvertips.
Ethan Bear dived to knock the puck away from a Kamloops forward in overtime to spring Kolesar on a breakaway from the T-Birds’ zone. Kolesar came down on Kamloops goalie Connor Ingram, faked to his backhand, brought the puck back to his forehand and slid it past Ingram’s left leg.
The T-Birds put a season-high 58 shots on goal in the game. Ingram made 54 saves.
Kamloops (31-17-1-2) took a 1-0 lead at 11:10 of the second period on a goal from Devin Sideroff.
Seattle (30-15-3-1) tied the game 1-1 at 3:43 of the third period. Turner Ottenbreit took a shot that Ingram stopped. Mathew Barzal swiped at the puck before Ethan Bear, pinching down from the left point dived and put the puck in the net. The scoring play went to video review and after a few minutes the referees said it was a good goal.
The Blazers took the lead back, 2-1, at 8:42 of the third on a power-play goal by Lane Bauer.
The T-Birds tied the game 2-2 at 15:51 of the third when Kolesar put back a rebound. Ryan Gropp passed the puck to Ottenbreit at the left point. Ottenbreit took a slap shot that Ingram stopped with the rebound coming right to Kolesar.
Seattle took a 3-2 lead at 17:05 third on Sami Moilanen’s 15th goal of the season. Ottenbreit took a shot that from the left point that Moilanen tipped over Ingram’s shoulder. Donovan Neuls had the second assist.
Kamloops tied the game 3-3 at 18:23 of the third on Bauer’s second goal of the game.
Toth made 22 saves on 25 shots and his record is now 25-15-1-0.
Play it again
The T-Birds and Blazers play again at 7:35 p.m. Friday at the ShoWare Center. They travel to Portland to take on the Winterhawks at 7p.m. Saturday at the Moda Center.
Fans may purchase single-game tickets online or at the ShoWare Center box office. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – No scoring. Penalties – Sideroff, Kam (hooking), :57. Mahovlich, Kam (tripping), 6:31.
Second period – 1, Kamloops, Sideroff 29 (Balcers, Vala), 11:10. Penalties – Holowko, Kam (tripping), 3:38. Ottenbreit, Sea (interference), 4:24. Sideroff, Kam (interference), 6:24. Volcan, Sea (embellishment), 6:24. Adams, Sea (elbowing), 7:39. Volcan, Sea (holding), 13:24.
Third period – 2, Seattle, Bear 18 (Barzal, Ottenbreit), 3:43. 3, Kamloops, Bauer 30 (Sideroff, Valentine), 8:42 (pp). 4, Seattle, Kolesar 11 (Ottenbreit, Gropp), 15:51.5, Seattle, Moilanen 15 (Ottenbreit, Neuls), 17:05. 6, Kamloops, Bauer 31 (Sideroff, Gatenby), 18:23. Penalties – Sideroff, Kam (hooking), 5:50. True, Sea (high-sticking), 7:19.
Overtime – 7, Seattle, Kolesar 12 (Bear), 1:07. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 21-16-19-2 58, Kamloops 6-13-5-1 25. Goalies – Seattle, Toth 25 shots-22 saves (25-15-1-0); Kamloops, Ingram 58-54 (18-9-2-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Kamloops 1-4. A – 4,407. Referees – Mike Langin, Sean Raphael. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Ron Dietterle.
