Verhelst Shuts Down T-Birds

Watson scores twice in 4-2 loss to Spokane

SPOKANE, December 9, 2015 — Tyson Verhelst had an outstanding night in net for the Spokane Chiefs Wednesday night to lead his team to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds at Veterans Memorial Arena.

Verhelst had 37 saves, including 17 in the first period, to help get the Chiefs the win in the first game of a home-and-home series between the two teams. The T-Birds and Chiefs meet Friday at 7:35pm at ShoWare Center.

Spokane (16-10-2-1) took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Adam Helewka at 14:20 of the first period. Helewka took a pass in the right circle from Kailer Yamamoto and beat Seattle goalie Taz Burman over the blocker.

Seattle (17-9-2-0) tied the game 1-1 at 17:28 of the first. Donovan Neuls had the puck along the right boards and centered it to Jamal Watson in the high slot. Watson took a slap shot that deflected off a Spokane defenseman and past Verhelst. The deflection fooled Verhelst as he was going down make a glove saves and the puck knuckled over his blocker. Ethan Bear had the second assist.

Seattle outshot Spokane 18-7 in the first period.

The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead eight minutes into the second period. Jacob Cardiff tipped a shot from Nik Andersen past Burman. Taylor Ross had the second assist.

Ross split the Seattle defense to score on a breakaway at 11:24 of the second to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead. Cardiff and Andersen had the assists.

Seattle replaced Burman with Logan Flodell after the third Spokane goal. Burman made 12 saves on 15 shots and his record is now 7-4-0-0.

Keanu Yamamoto stole the puck from the Seattle defense at the blue line to create a breakaway.

Yamamoto beat Flodell on the blocker side for an unassisted goal at 18:07 of the second.

The T-Birds led in shots 27-19 after two periods.

The T-Birds cut the Chiefs lead to two goals at 14:53 of the third period on a shorthanded goal from Watson. Watson got the puck from Scott Eansor and headed up ice on a two-on-one with Eansor. Watson took the puck to the net and beat Verhelst on the blocker side for his fifth goal of the season.

The T-Birds outshot the Chiefs 12-2 in the third period and 39-21 in the game.

Flodell made five saves on six shots in 28 minutes of action.

Verhelst’s record is now 13-5-0-1 with the win.

The T-Birds play the Everett Silvertips on Saturday at 7:05pm at ShoWare Center.

T-Birds single game tickets for the 2015-16 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 am to 5 pm Saturday game days at 10 am and Sunday game days at noon.

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

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Spokane, Helewka 16 (Ka. Yamamoto), 14:20. 2, Seattle, Watson 4 (Neuls, Bear), 17:28. Penalties – Miske, Spo (holding), :56. Miske, Spo (holding), 5:16. Osterman, Sea (slashing), 8:53. Ke. Yamamoto, Spo (tripping), 15:45. Eansor, Sea (hooking), 16:37.

Second period – 3, Spokane, Cardiff 3 (Ross, Sozanski), 8:00. 4, Spokane, Ross 1 (Andersen, Ross), 11:24. 5, Spokane, Ke. Yamamoto 6, 18:07. Penalties – Toporowski, Spo (interference), 13:33. Hauf, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:18. Cardiff, Spo (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:18. Uhrich, Sea (major-fighting),19:59. Hamaliuk, Spo (major-fighting), 19:59.

Third period – 6, Seattle, Watson 5 (Eansor), 14:53. Penalties – Whittingham, Spo (hooking), :44. Helewka, Spo (hooking), 4:13. Ke.Yamamoto Spo (tripping), 9:05. Gropp, Sea (tripping), 13:09. Uhrich, Sea (high-sticking), 17:38. Barzal, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 17:38.

Shots on goal – Seattle 18-9-12 39, Spokane 7-12-2 21. Goalies – Seattle, Burman 15 shots-12 saves (7-4-0-0), Flodell 6-5; Spokane, Verhelst 39-37 (13-5-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-7; Spokane 0-3. A – 3,316. Referees – Mike Campbell, Jason Nissen. Linesmen – Michael Boisvert, Jim Maniago.