Thunderbirds fall to Spokane in third preseason game

Williams, Kubicek score in 3-2 loss to Chiefs

September 3, 2018 11:30 am
The Thunderbirds’ Payton Mount pushes the puck up the Ice during WHL preseason against Spokane on Sunday. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds
The Thunderbirds’ Payton Mount pushes the puck up the Ice during WHL preseason against Spokane on Sunday. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

For the Reporter

The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 Sunday afternoon at the Delta Hotels Preseason Classic at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

The T-Birds went 1-2 over the weekend, beating the Everett Silvertips 5-4 in overtime on Saturday. They opened with a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Giants on Friday.

On Saturday, Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 9:40 of the first period on a power-play goal from Owen Williams. Andrej Kukuca got the puck to Williams who circled in the left circle, cut to the slot and beat Spokane goalie Campbell Arnold with a wrist shot low. Matthew Wedman had the second assist.

The Chiefs scored three goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

Adam Beckman scored a five-on-three power-play goal at 5:10 off an assist from Nolan Reid. Jake Finley scored at 14:08 on a breakaway and then Beckman scored shorthanded at 16:42.

Simon Kubicek cut the Chiefs lead to one with a power-play goal at 11:41 of the third period. Holden Katzalay crossed the puck from the right point to Kubicek at center ice. Kubicek took a slap shot that beat Arnold low on the glove side.

The T-Birds pulled goalie Eric Ward for an extra attacker late in the third period to try and tie the game. The T-Birds put pressure on the Chiefs defense but were not able to find the tying goal.

Spokane outshot Seattle 39-20 in the game.

Ward had 36 saves on 39 shot and Arnold had 18 saves on 20 shots.

Up next

Preseason play continues at the Red Lion Hotels’ Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The T-Birds face Spokane at 3 p.m. Thursday, and meet the Kootenay Ice at 3 p.m. Friday.

The T-Birds wrap up preseason play with back-to-back games against the Silvertips – at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the accesso ShoWare Center, and at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 in Everett.

The T-Birds open the regular season against the Portland Winterhawks at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 on home ice.

For tickets, visit seattlethunderbirds.com.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Williams 1 (Kukuca, Wedman), 9:40 (pp). Penalties – MacNeil, Spo (slashing), 8:08. Kukuca, Sea (interference), 12:18. McIsaac, Sea (slew foot), 15:34. McNelly, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:34. Savey, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:34. Gulka, Spo (slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:34.

Second period – 2, Spokane, Beckman 3 (Reid), 5:10 (pp). 3, Spokane, Finley 1, 14:08. 4, Spokane, Beckman 4, 16:42. Penalties – Leduc, Spo (interference), :44. McNelly, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting, game misconduct), 3:26. Gulka, Spo (major-fighting, game misconduct), 3:26. Bauer, Sea (tripping), 5:04. Uchacz, Sea (tripping), 10:09. Savey, Sea (charging), 18:08.

Third period – 5, Seattle, Kubicek 2 (Katzalay, Ciona), 11:41. (pp). Penalties – Ciona, Sea (interference), 5:07. Bench, Spo (too many men-served by Gallagher), 6:37. Sward, Spo (slashing), 11:17. Ciona, Sea (roughing), 12:57. Wedman, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 12:57. Russell, Spo (interference), 12:57.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-2-8 20, Spokane 14-16-9 39. Goalies – Seattle, Ward 39 shots-36 saves (0-1-0-0); Spokane, Arnold 20-18 (1-0-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 2-5; Spokane 1-7. Referees – Bryan Bourdon, Ryan O’Keefe. Linesmen – Trevor Beaton, Adam Brastad.