Great Seattle effort comes up short...

Seattle played a heck of a game last night and just couldn't get the finish around the net needed to win the game. The Tbirds dominated the first period, out shooting Portland 16-3 but gave up the only goal of the period on the first shot of the game by Portland when Brad Ross snuck in a breakaway attempt past Calvin Pickard.

I know a lot of fans were upset about the play but I thought Referee Pat Smith actually made the correct call on the play. A Prab Rai turnover lead to the breakaway for Ross with Ramsay giving chase. Ramsay slashed Ross just enough to throw him off and Smith had his hand in the air as Ross and the puck went crashing into Pickard. At this point... I lost sight of the puck but I have to believe that Smith saw it over the line and the video replay must have confirmed it up in the booth. Some fans wanted a Goaltender Interference call but the league rulebook is pretty darn clear about the rule and I can't see how you could defend that position.

Rule 69.1 - Interference on the Goalkeeper

If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.

I'll go even further. If you want to say that perhaps the puck was loose and/or should have been considered a rebound.

Section 69.6 - Rebounds and Loose Pucks

In a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact with the goalkeeper will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.

The next paragraph goes into the attacking player making contact with the goalie after he has made the stop. Pay particularly close attention to the last part.

In the event that the goalkeeper has been pushed into the net together with the puck by an attacking player after making a stop, the goal will be disallowed. If applicable, appropriate penalties will be assessed. If, however, in the opinion of the Referee, the attacking player was pushed or otherwise fouled by a defending player causing the goalkeeper to be pushed into the net together with the puck, the goal can be permitted.

I really wish I could have come up with a different answer, but if Pat Smith saw the puck over the line and he had already called a penalty on Ramsay, he must allow the goal... pretty clear cut there.

Anyways... it was a bummer ending to an otherwise incredible period by the Tbirds.

The second period wasn't quite as good by Seattle, managing 11 more shots but still couldn't get one past Mac Carruth.

The goal by Johansen gave Portland a 2-0 lead and it seemed as though every one of the nearly 5800 in attendance knew that the 2 goal lead would probably hold up.

Seattle managed a PP goal by Rouse with just over 7 minutes left in the game that gave Seattle hope but they just never really threatened again and the open net goal by Niederreiter sealed the game with 35 seconds to play.

The Charles Wells (-3), Prab Rai (-2) and Lindsay Nielsen (-2) did not have a great night while Portland's big guns, Ross/Niederreiter/Aronson/Johansen were all +3.

Another brave effort by Pickard, visibly upset by the first goal, recovered to stop 33 of 25 Portland shots.

As for the Tbirds... well... 1 last game tonight in this miserable season. I will have a recap up tomorrow and I will be working on some end of the season stuff that isn't quite finalized for next week.