Thunderbirds roll to sixth straight win | WHL

Alexander True, Mathew Barzal and Keegan Kolesar scored to power the Seattle Thunderbirds to their sixth straight victory, a 3-1 conquest of the Vancouver Giants at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday night.

Alexander True, Mathew Barzal and Keegan Kolesar scored to power the Seattle Thunderbirds to their sixth straight victory, a 3-1 conquest of the Vancouver Giants at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday night.

The T-Birds are in Everett for a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday game against the Silvertips at Xfinity Arena.

Seattle goalie Taz Burman stopped 21 of 22 shots to get the win and improve to 3-1-0-0.

The T-Birds faced the Giants’ top-ranked power play three times in the game, and killed it off each time.

Vancouver outshot Seattle 8-7 in a scoreless first period.

Seattle (7-1-1-0) took a 1-0 lead 1:55 into the second period on an unassisted goal from True. Vancouver goalie Peyton Lee misplayed the puck behind his net, and True was able to throw the puck into the crease and then tap it through Lee’s legs as he tried to get back into the crease.

The T-Birds went in front 2-0 on a power-play goal from Barzal at 7:33 of the second. Ethan Bear passed the puck to Barzal outside the top of the top of the left circle. The Giants defense did not challenge Barzal so he two strides put a slap shot on goal from the top of the left circle. Barzal beat Lee high on the blocker side for his third goal of the season.

Seattle outshot Vancouver 12-7 in the second period and led 19-15 in shots after two periods.

Vancouver (4-5-1-1) cut the T-Birds’ lead to one goal at 15:35 of the third period. Jackson Houck’s shot from the left circle missed the net and bounced off the end board to Tyler Benson on the goal line to the right of the Seattle net. Benson got the puck under Burman for the goal. Ty Ronning had the second assist.

The T-Birds got the two-goal lead back 25 seconds after the Giants goal. Nick Holowko worked the puck out of the right corner to Barzal. Barzal curled through the right circle and backhanded the puck to Keegan Kolesar in the slot. Kolesar one-timed the puck over Lee’s right shoulder for his sixth goal of the year.

Seattle outshot Vancouver 19-7 in the third period and 38-22 in the game.

Lee ended the game with 35 saves on 38 shots and his record is now 3-3-0-1.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Odgers, Van (major-fighting), 8:13. Kolesar, Sea (major-fighting), 8:13. Osterman, Sea (charging), 9:35. Osterman, Sea (major-fighting), 15:35. Thrower, Van (major-fighting), 15:35.

Second period – 1, Seattle, True 5, 1:55. 2, Seattle, Barzal 3 (E. Bear), 7:33 (pp). Penalties – Osipov, Van (hooking), 2:53. Thrower, Van (interference), 7:26. Tsyzka, Sea (interference), 11:53. Wedman, Sea (hooking), 15:24.

Third period – 3, Vancouver, Benson 1 (Houck, Ronning), 15:35. 4, Seattle, Kolesar 6 (Barzal), 16:00. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 7-12-19 38, Vancouver 8-7-7 22. Goalies – Seattle, Burman 22 shots-21 saves (3-1-0-0); Vancouver, Lee 38-35 (3-3-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Vancouver 0-3. A – 4,172. Referees – Dexter Rasmussen, Kyle Kowalski. Linesmen – Bevan Mills, Scott Mackey.