Thunderbirds edge Wild 1-0 in overtime in season opener

WENATCHEE — Luke Puchner scored 3:59 into overtime Saturday to lift the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 1-0 victory over the Wenatchee Wild in the Western Hockey League season opener at Town Toyota Center.

Puchner put a shot into the top corner of the Wenatchee net after nearly 64 minutes of scoreless hockey. Wild goaltender Carsten Leyerzapf stopped Seattle's first 37 shots before allowing the game-winner.

Seattle controlled much of the opening period, recording 12 of the game's first 14 shots and finishing the period with a 16-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Wenatchee reversed the pressure in the second period, outshooting Seattle 16-5. Neither team was able to break through in regulation, sending the game into overtime tied 0-0.

The teams combined for eight shots during nearly four minutes of overtime, their first game played under the WHL's new no-return overtime rules. Wenatchee won four of five faceoffs in the extra period before Puchner scored the deciding goal.

Leyerzapf finished with 37 saves for Wenatchee. Seattle goaltender Grayson Malinoski stopped all 31 Wild shots for the shutout.

Special teams also went scoreless. The two teams combined to kill all five power-play opportunities.

The regulation shutout marked the first for Wenatchee's current WHL franchise since the former Kootenay ICE played the Swift Current Broncos to a scoreless tie through regulation before a 1-0 shootout finish in October 2010.

Wenatchee earned one standings point in the overtime loss and opened the season 0-0-1-0. Seattle improved to 1-0-0-0.

The Wild will play their first road game of the season Friday against the defending WHL champion Everett Silvertips at Angel of the Winds Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Wenatchee and Everett will meet again Saturday at Town Toyota Center.