Jacobs Hat Trick Silences Coguars

Alos has goal and two assists in 5-4 win over Prince George

PRINCE GEORGE, BC, December 3, 2010 — Colin Jacobs had three goals and an assist Friday night at the CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia, to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars.

The hat trick by Jacobs was the T-Birds third hat trick of the season. Brendan Rouse hat a hat trick at Chilliwack on October 9 and Luke Lockhart had a hat trick at Saskatoon on November 9.

This was a back and forth game as the T-Birds came back from three one-goal deficits, lost a one-goal lead and took the lead for good in the middle of the third period.

Seattle improves their record to 12-8-3-4. These two teams will meet in the second of back-to-back games on Saturday at 7 p.m. at CN Centre.

Prince George took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal at 9:55 of the first period by James Dobrowolski. Martin Marincin and Sena Acolatse had the assists.

Seattle tied the game 1-1 at 12:44 of the first on Travis Bobbee’s fourth goal of the year. Bobbee beat Prince George goalie James Priestner with a slap shot from the top of the right circle. Brendan Rouse and Travis Toomey had assists on the goal.

Brett Connolly gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead at 13:29 of the first with his 22nd goal of the season. Acolatse and Taylor Stefishen had the assists.

The T-Birds tied the game 2-2 at 16:36 of the first. Mitch Elliot put a shot on goal that Priestner directed into the right corner. Alos chased the puck down and then had time to look for a pass. Alos spotted Jacobs just outside the left post and whipped the puck through the slot to him. Jacobs roofed the puck past a lunging Priestner for his 11th goal of the year.

Both teams had 15 shots on goal in the first period.

Prince George (15-11-2-0) took the lead back at 1:59 of the second period on a goal from Nick Buonassisi. Troy Bourke and Cody Carlson had the assists on the goal.

Jacobs answered back for the T-Birds 16 seconds after Prince George’s third goal to tie the game 3-3. Jacobs threw the puck at the net from the goal line to the right of the Priestner. Jacobs shot beat Priestner through his legs and rolled into the back of the net.

Alos put back a rebound at 18:11 of the second to give the T-Birds a 4-3 lead. Jacobs sent the puck from the right corner to Dave Sutter the right point. Sutter blasted a slap shot on goal with Elliot screening the goalie. Priestner stopped the shot but the puck rebounded to his right to Alos. Alos swept the puck past a lunging Priestner for his third goal of the year.

Seattle outshot Prince George 11-7 in the second period and led 26-22 in total shots after 40 minutes.

The Cougars tied the game 4-4 at 1:10 of the third period on Dobrowolski’s second goal of the game. Stefishen and Connolly assisted on the goal.

Jacobs scored at 6:48 of the third to get the hat trick and give Seattle a 5-4 lea. Priestner went behind his net to play a Seattle dump in. Alos skated hard and got to Priestner just as he was getting the puck. Alos stole the puck from Priestner and centered it to Jacobs coming into the slot from the right. Jacobs put a backhand shot on goal that went through several Cougars players and into an empty net. Priestner was trying to get back to the crease but could not get there in time.

Prince George outshot Seattle 17-7 in the third period and 40-33 in the game.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard stopped 36 of 40 shots and his record improves to 12-8-2-4.

Priestner made 28 saves on 33 shots and his record is now 10-8-2-0.

The T-Birds have a home-and-home series with the Tri-City Americans after they return from Prince George.  They are at the Toyota Center in Kennewick on Friday, December 10 and then at ShoWare Center on Saturday, December 11 at 7:05 p.m.

T-Birds single game tickets for the 2010-11 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

T-Birds Group tickets are currently on sale. Group tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Prince George, Dobrowolski 6 (Marincin, Acolatse), 9:55 (pp). 2, Seattle, Bobbee 4 (Rouse, Toomey), 12:44. 3, Prince George, Connolly 22 (Acolatse, Stefishen), 13:29. 4, Seattle, Jacobs 11 (Alos, Elliot), 16:36. Penalties – Stefishen, PG (roughing), 6:35. Fleming, Sea (hooking), 10:00.

Second period – 5, Prince George, Buonassisi 11 (Bourke, Carlson), 1:59. 6, Seattle, Jacobs 12, 2:15. 7, Seattle, Alos 3 (Sutter, Jacobs), 18:11. Penalties – Stefishen, PG (hooking), 6:09. Dillon, Sea (major-fighting), 8:35. Forsberg, PG (major-fighting), 8:35. Carlson, PG (hooking), 9:30. Wells, Sea (hooking), 10:09. Pilling, PG (holding), 11:34. Gallimore, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct-diving), 11:34. Smith, PG (unsportsmanlike conduct)), 12:26. Doty, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct)), 12:26. Bourke, PG (tripping), 15:31. 

Third period – 8, Prince George, Dobrowolski 7 (Stefishen, Connolly), 1:12. 9, Seattle, Jacobs 13 (Alos), 6:48. Penalties – Bobbee, Sea (tripping), 1:46. Gallimore, Sea (delay of game), 3:17. Gallimore, Sea (high-sticking), 15:15.

Shots on goal – Seattle 15-11-7 33. Prince George 15-8-17 40. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 40 shots-36 saves (12-8-2-4); Prince George, Priestner 33-28 (10-8-2-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Prince George 1-5. A – 1,790. Referee – Trent Knorr, Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Adam Hyatt, Nathan Van Oosten.