Berry’s Third-Period Goals For T-Birds Do In Chiefs Seattle Sweeps Weekend Exhibitions With Shorthanded Spokane Squad

Rick Berry scored two third-period goals, including the game-winner - a 55-foot slap shot from the perimeter of the power play - to nudge the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 6-3 comeback win over the short-handed Spokane Chiefs Sunday night.

It was a weekend exhibition season sweep for the rebuilding T-Birds, who thumped the Chiefs 9-2 Saturday night in Seattle.

“We know that’s not Spokane’s team,” Seattle coach Don Nachbaur said. “We were fortunate. We didn’t have a whole lot of guys at pro camp this week.”

The T-Birds were without former Chief Martin Cerven and four others who are at training camp. Spokane’s roster was withered with nine veterans off to NHL camp.

Still, the Chiefs made a game of it with a mixture of vets and rookies at Eagles Ice Arena, jumping up 2-0 on Greg Leeb’s first-period goals.

Leeb’s second strike came on a sweet feed from Yegor Mikhailov with the Chiefs on the penalty kill.

Although the Chiefs hassled the T-Birds on that power-play, Seattle did score on three of 10 chances with the extra attacker while Spokane squandered all five of its power-play opportunities.

Even so, poor special-teams play wasn’t much of a concern to coach Mike Babcock, who was basically reduced to augmenting regulars with the junior varsity, although Leeb and the equally quick Mikhailov were an effective tandem on the penalty-kill.

Babcock saw things to like in his youngsters, who slipped to 1-2-1 in practice games.

“Brad Ference and Kyle Rossiter (defensemen) played real well, Jamie Pryor really battled and (center) Chad Jensen showed some skill I hadn’t seen,” the coach said.

The Chiefs play their last two exhibitions this weekend in Lethbridge prior to their Sept. 20 regular-season opener in Kelowna.

Seattle tied it at 2 with second-period scores by Jeremy Reich and Jouni Kuokkanen, then grabbed the lead 90 seconds into the third period on Lee Svangstu’s goal.

Chiefs rookie Blake Evans tied it at 3 at 5:48 of the third, assisted by Joe Cardarelli and Ty Jones, but 5 minutes later Berry slapped his long one in and Chris Cantu scored 68 seconds later to end what suspense there is in practice exercises.

The Chiefs alternated two rookies in goal. Shaun Fleming stopped 10 of 12 shots and left after a period and a half with the game tied at 2. Dwayne Renaud came on to reject 14 shots but gave up four third-period goals.

Seattle’s Jeff Blair was rocky early but tightened up down the strech. Blair rejected 32 shots.

“He hasn’t been sharp,” Nachbaur said. “These last two periods were his best two of the exhibition season. It looks like he’s starting to get back on top of it.”

Although the Chiefs lose Cardarelli to pro camp this week, defenseman Adam Magarrell returned Saturday night and suited Sunday. Defenseman Ryan Berry watched in street clothes.

“We’ll start getting guys back,” Babcock said. “Until then you’re just kind of watching and waiting for your team to get here.”

, DataTimes