Thunderbirds Down Rush in OT Thriller
Dec 5, 2021
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (December 4, 2021) - On the night when the Halifax Thunderbirds (1-0) wore special orange uniforms and celebrated Every Child Matters, the home team downed the visiting Saskatchewan Rush (0-1) at the Scotiabank Centre in overtime, 12-11.
It was another electric overtime game between the two Canadian clubs, but Eric Fannell made sure the results were not the same as the last meeting between the two teams. Deep into overtime, the St. Catherines, Ontario native buried the winner to finish their first game in 636 days on a high note.
The game started with rookie defenceman Connor McClelland burying a goal on a fast break for the Rush. Halifax was then awarded a penalty shot, which Clarke Petterson netted easily to knot things up. Saskatchewan rattled off two more goals, with Robert Church getting points on both, and the first quarter ended with the visitors up 3-1.
Petterson and Chris Boushy opened up the scoring in the second frame with a slick two-man game, freeing up Boushy for the goal. The Rush were able to extend their lead to three goals, however, and numerous Thunderbirds penalties kept them running their penalty kill unit out often.
It did provide for a slick shorthand goal for alternate captain Scott Campbell, but the Rush returned their lead to three goals thanks to a power-play goal from Dan Lintner. Two late transition goals got the Thunderbirds back within one, but the first half ended with them down 6-5 and coming back into the third quarter man-down for an additional 2:35 minutes.
Petterson would continue his torrid night with a high-to-low laser to even things up at six goals apiece, and Rhys Duch netted his first goal of the year on the power play. The lead would shift back into Saskatchewan’s favour, but Duch knotted things up again, ending the third quarter with both teams tied 8-8.
Tyson Bell kicked things off with a topside cheddar transition goal, but Holden Garlent tied things up again with his second fast break goal of the night. The back and forth continued, with Jeff Shattler’s power play goal being the final tally in regulation. Once again, Saskatchewan and Halifax went to overtime at The Nest.
Highlight reel save after save were made on both ends by Thunderbirds goalie Warren Hill and Rush netminder Adam Shute. The Rush thought they had the winner on a Josh Currier crease dive goal. The referees waved it off and after review, the call stood. The teams went back and forth, looking for that final shot to fall, but it was Fannell who called game by muscling his way into the middle, switching hands, and blowing a shot past Shute. The Thunderbirds won their first game of the 2021-22 season, 12-11.
Petterson’s five points (2G, 3A) led the way for the Thunderbirds, followed by Duch (3G, 1A) and Kyle Jackson (4A), each with four points. Hill spent 68:30 minutes in net and made 39 saves. He finished the night with the win, a 9.64 goals-against average, and a .780 save percentage.
For the Rush, Mark Matthews led the team in points with six assists, and Church posted five points (3G, 2A). Shute’s first loss of the season saw him make 42 saves for a 10.51 GAA and .778 Sv%.
The Thunderbirds return to Scotiabank Centre on Friday, Dec. 10 and welcome their Eastern Conference rival, the Toronto Rock (1-0). Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. AT.
Fans can secure tickets to the final Thunderbirds home game of 2021 by visiting https://ticketatlantic.co/thunderbirds or by calling or texting 902-334-2333