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Thunderbirds top Giants; and regain after OT victory

The Seattle Thunderbirds treated their audience to a thriller last Saturday night at Key Arena.

With the visiting Vancouver Giants leading 3-1 in the third period, Denis Toplenko scored on an assist by Nicholas Harsulla at 5:22 to bring them within one goal of tying the game.

Feeling the possibility of a comeback the fans began to chant, “Lets go birds!” The players seemed to play with more enthusiasm as the period ran down. Then, Aaron Gagnon received a pass from Steven Goertzen and Zack FitzGerald in front of the goal. Gagnon took the shot and tied the game at 13:11. The arena rumbled as the T-birds circled the ice celebrating the game-tying goal.

With 1:49 left on the clock, neither team was able to take the lead. Overtime would be required to settle this game.

Team Captain Dustin Johner was seen banging his stick on the boards to pump up the fans before the overtime period began. Playing four-on-four in a five-minute, sudden-death overtime period would prove who the toughest team would be on this night. With intense checking, and raging temperaments, the T-birds battled to the 2:59 mark when they called their only timeout.

The T-Birds kept the puck in the Giants’ zone until roughly 2:00, when rookie Chris Durand circled the right side of the net and found an open Tyler Metcalfe. Durand passed the puck; Metcalfe took his shot only to be blocked by Giants goalie Aaron Sorochan. But Sorochan was unable to retain the rebound, as Metcalfe soared in front of the net and shot the game-winning goal.

The Seattle bench emptied onto the ice as the 3,636 fans celebrated the 4-3 breath-taking win.

“Durand and Jackson stepped up tonight,” said Johner after the game. Metcalfe added that sticking to their game plan and using speed led to their success.

When asked what the teams goals were this year, Johner replied, “To strive to get to .500, and to win a championship.”

The Thunderbirds are looking to improve their now 4-6-3 record with hopes of defending their U.S. Division Championship and returning to the playoffs.

NEXT HOME GAME: 7 p.m. Oct. 31 – Halloween Night against the Western Hockey League’s first-place Kamloops Blazers. For tickets, call the Seattle Thunderbirds at (206) 448-PUCK or go to www.Seattle-Thunderbirds.com.