Seattle Takes First Game Of CN Centre Double-Header, 6-3

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 09:28 AM

The Seattle Thunderbirds sure didn't look like a team that was recently mired by a 17-game losing streak. The Thunderbirds scored in each period and pulled away from the host Prince George Cougars Tuesday night, earning a 6-3 victory at CN Centre to open a mid-week double header.

The Cougars were looking to bring a halt to a five game losing streak and were hoping to keep the home team's winning streak going in their head-to-head meetings with Seattle. The hosts had won the previous six contests, including the Thunderbirds two wins on home ice to begin the 2009-10 season series. The Cougars started off slowly, but were backstopped by Hudson Stremmel, who came up with numerous big saves in the first period to keep the game scoreless. But Seattle was able to break the ice at 15:25, when Charles Wells hammered home his 16th goal of the year on a Seattle 2-on-1. But 94 seconds later the Cougars got back on even terms. Alex Rodgers was able to barge into the Thunderbirds zone and then fed a pass to James Dobrowolski in the slot, who fought off a check and scored his 14th goal of the year to make it 1-1. Seattle out-shot the Cougars 15-11.

In the second period, Seattle got off to a quick start. Leading scorer Prab Rai notched his 38th goal of the campaign off a Cougars turn-over behind the net just 1:30 into the frame. After Colin Jacobs upped the Seattle lead to 3-1 later in the second period, the Cougars began chipping away. First Greg Fraser snapped a shot off the right wing that snuck through T-Birds goalie Calvin Pickard for Fraser's fourth goal of the year, assisted by Alex Rodgers. That was Fraser's first goal in 23 games, last finding the net December 27 against Kamloops. At 17:45, Art Bidlevskii sent a perfect rink wide pass out to centre ice, where he hit Parker Stanfield with speed going down the left wing. Stanfield went deep into the Seattle zone and pulled Pickard out of position and slid a pass into the crease where Spencer Asuchak tapped in his 9th of the year, fighting off a Seattle check. But with just 17 seconds left in the period, Seattle regained the lead, when Brendan Rouse took advantage of a loose puck in the Cougars end, scoring his fifth, and putting the Thunderbirds up 4-3 through 40 minutes. The shots were 12-7 for Prince George.

Seattle put the game out of reach late in the third with a pair of goals; Brendan Silvester getting his fourth at 16:32 and Wells' second of the game at 17:20 on the power play for a 6-3 Thunderbirds win. Seattle out-shot the Cougars 9-6 in the third and 31-29 in the game. The Cougars found themselves short-handed seven times, allowing one power play goal. The Cougars were 0-for-4 with the man-advantage.

With the win, the Thunderbirds improve to 16-35-7-4, while the Cougars fall to 11-47-1-2. The two teams end the season series Wednesday at CN Centre, starting at 7:00. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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