Nico Myatovic Scores Two Goals In Debut As T-Birds Beat Americans
Myatovic was selected in sixth round of 2019 WHL Draft
KENT, April 13, 2021 — Nico Myatovic made his Seattle Thunderbirds debut one to remember. Myatovic scored his first WHL goal on his first shot in the first period and his second career goal on his second shot in the second period as the T-Birds skated to a 4-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans at accesso ShoWare Center.
Myatovic was selected by the T-Birds in the sixth round, 119th overall, of the 2019 WHL Draft. He signed a Standard WHL Player Agreement with the team on February 4, 2020.
The T-Birds next game is Friday, April 16, against the Everett Silvertips at 6:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center. They travel to Portland to take on the Winterhawks on Saturday at 5:05pm in a game that will be broadcast on JOEtv Channel 22/Cable 110.
Myatovic’s first goal came at 2:25 of the first period on his first shift. Myatovic gathered the puck on the left wing boards and poked it past a defenseman along the wall for a partial breakaway. Myatovic skated in on Tri-City goalie Talyn Boyko, faked a shot in the left circle and then beat the goalie with a move to his backhand.
The Visit Kent first goal of the game tonight was scored by Nico Myatovic, his first @TheWHL goal. Find out more about Kent now https://t.co/zpbZIos1M8 pic.twitter.com/ali5miFzsi
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) April 14, 2021
Tri-City tied the game 1-1 on a goal by Edge Lambert at the 14-minute mark of the first.
Myatovic put the T-Birds in front 2-1 at 4:56 of the second period. Keltie Jeri-Leon had the puck in the neutral zone and moved it up the ice to Lucas Ciona who gained the offensive zone. Ciona passed the puck to Myatovic in at the top of the right circle. Myatovic skated towards Boyko and beat the goalie with a backhand shot high over the glove.
Two Shots. Two Goals.
Nico's second puts us up 2-1!#LetsGoBirds #MyOhMyatovic pic.twitter.com/J2uLknxebx
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) April 14, 2021
Jeri-Leon gave the T-Birds a 3-1 lead on the power play at 9:33 of the second. Jordan Gustafson won a faceoff in the right circle to forward where Ciona got it and whipped it into the slot. Jeri-Leon took the pass and beat Boyko on the blocker side for his ninth goal of the season.
The Americans Jake Sloan scored with Boyko on the bench for an extra attacker at 17:42 of the third.
Henrik Rybinski was tripped on a breakaway with 1:19 left in the third to put the T-Birds on the power play. The Americans pulled Boyko for an extra attacker on the penalty kill and Rybinski was able to hit the empty net.
Jackson Berry had 32 saves to improve his record to 2-1-0-0.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Myatovic 1, 2:25. 2, Tri-City, Lambert 2 (Daniel, Andregg), 14:00. Penalties – Melnyk, Tri (hooking), 9:53. Rybinski, Sea (double minor-roughing), 20:00. Bouchard, Tri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Myatovic 2 (Ciona, Jeri-Leon), 4:56. 4, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 9 (Ciona, Gustafson), 9:33 (pp). Penalties – Daniel, Tri (slashing), 8:19. Gottfried, Sea (holding), 10:00. Huo, Tri (hooking), 16:38. Bouchard, Tri (tripping), 18:49.
Third period – 5, Tri-City, Sloan 3 (Melnyk), 17:42. 6, Seattle, Rybinski 3 (Bauer, Berry), 18:48 (pp/en). Penalties – Sanders, Sea (hooking), 2:08. Gottfried, Sea (high-sticking), 3:45. Dragicevic, Tri (tripping), 18:19.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-15-10 36, Tri-City 13-6-15 34. Goalies – Seattle, Berry 34 shots-32 saves (2-1-0-0); Tri-City, Boyko 35-32 (5-6-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 2-5; Tri-City 0-5. Referees – Sean MacFarlane, Ian Jendro. Linesmen – Justin Nicol, Josh Rosenbaum.
