Thunderbirds fall to Winterhawks

Kaluski, Wedman score in 5-2 loss at Portland

February 18, 2019 11:30 am
The Thunderbirds’ Matthew Wedman controls the puck in front of the Winterhawks’ Reece Newkirk during WHL play. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds
The Thunderbirds’ Matthew Wedman controls the puck in front of the Winterhawks’ Reece Newkirk during WHL play. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 in a Western Hockey League game Sunday night at the Moda Center.

Seattle (23-28-5-2) remains the second wild-card playoff team in the Western Conference, five points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers. Kamloops (21-28-4-1) has three games in hand on the T-Birds.

Portland went in front 1-0 at 11:24 of the first period on a goal from Michal Kvasnica. Robbie Fromm-Delorme had the only assist.

A good play by Keltie Jeri-Leon to keep the puck in the offensive zone led to the T-Birds tying the game 1-1 at 14:07 of the first. Tyler Carpendale forced a turnover along the left boards and Jeri-Leon got the puck before it excited the zone. Jeri-Leon leaned into a Portland defender and took a shot from the slot. Jaxan Kaluski was standing in front of Portland goalie Joel Hofer and the shot went off Kaluski and into the net.

The Winterhawks took a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal from Josh Paterson at 16:26 of the first. Joachim Blichfeld and Jared Freadrich had the assists.

Blichfeld scored shorthanded at 4:25 and on the power play at 7:44 of the second period to put the Winterhawks in front 4-1.

Matthew Wedman cut the Winterhawks lead to two with 29 seconds left in the second on the power play. Jarret Tyszka took a shot from the left point that hit Wedman in the stomach and dropped to the ice. Wedman gathered the puck and skated form left to right around the Portland net. Wedman wrapped the puck around the net at the right post with a shot that hit Hofer’s elbow and went into the net for his 32nd goal of the season. Sean Richards had the second assist.

With the goal Wedman has a six-game goal streak and an eight game point streak. He has nine goals and five assist in the last eight games.

Blichfeld scored at 11:34 of the third period to get Portland’s fifth goal.

Up next

The T-Birds next game is 7:35 p.m. Friday against the Everett Silvertips at Angel of the Winds Arena. They return home Saturday for a 6:05 p.m. against the Winterhawks at the accesso ShoWare Center.

For tickets, visit the T-Birds website or the ShoWare box office.

Fans who purchase the 24-flex ticket package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Portland, Kvasnica 8 (Fromm-Delorme), 11:24. 2, Seattle, Kaluski 6 (Jeri-Leon), 14:07. 3, Portland, Paterson 21 (Blichfeld, Freadrich), 16:26 (pp). Penalties – Richards, Sea (slashing), 8:35. Richards, Sea (slashing), 16:13.

Second period – 4, Portland, Blichfeld 46 (Glass), 4:25 (sh). 5, Portland, Blichfeld 47 (Gricius), 7:44 (pp). 6, Seattle, Wedman 32 (Tyszka, Richards), 19:31 (pp). Penalties – Newkirk, Por (goaltender interference), 3:23. Kukuca, Sea (slashing), 6:59. Ludvig, Por (tripping), 17:40.

Third period – 7, Portland, Blichfeld 47 (Glass, Paterson), 11:34. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 12-14-10 36, Portland 22-19-11 52. Goalies – Seattle, Schwebius 52 shots-47 saves (3-8-0-1); Portland, Hofer 36-34 (13-25-2-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Portland 2-3. A – 9,181. Referees – Ward Pateman, Mark Pearce. Linesmen – Trevor Beaton, Adam Harris.