T-Birds Eclipse Winterhawks at Climate Pledge
SEATTLE, Wash. – Sawyer Mynio scored in overtime and the Seattle Thunderbirds came back to beat the Portland Winterhawks 5-4 Sunday at Climate Pledge Arena. Seattle has won two in a row. The Thunderbirds return to the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent on Tuesday. They will host the Kamloops Blazers at 7:05 p.m.
“Obviously it was a big goal, a game winner,” said Mynio of his fifth game winning goal this season. “We stuck with it. Going down there into the third wasn’t ideal but that’s what we do, stay with it and grind that one out.”
Head coach Matt O’Dette agreed. “It was good resiliency from the guys,” he remarked. “The first forty minutes wasn’t great for us, but the third period started out the right way for us. We finally got a power play opportunity, and we cashed in. That gave us some life.”
The Thunderbird did score first with an Antonio Martorana wrap around goal at 5:03 of the first period. Portland tied it when Carter Sotheran scored at 17:24.
The Thunderbirds regained the advantage with a Jordan Gustafson goal at 3:34 of period two. Once again Sotheran answered for the Winterhawks, scoring his second at 9:55.
Portland then struck twice on the power play to take a 4-2 lead going into the second intermission. The goals came five minutes apart from Josh Davies and Gabe Klassen.
Seattle responded early in the third period with two power play goals of their own. Braeden Cootes tipped in a Mynio pass at 58-seconds in and Jeremy Hanzel blasted home his fifteenth of the season at the 3:25 mark with two Winterhawks in the penalty box.
“We were in a groove from there,” said O’Dette. Guys persevered and got it done.” The end of regulation and start of overtime was not without drama as Portland was on another power play as the third period ended and the extra period started.
“You have to have the right kills or the right power play reps at the right time,” commented O’Dette of his team’s special team play. “It can give you momentum or stifle momentum for the other team.”
After Seattle killed off the Winterhawks overtime power play, Nico Myatovic got possession of the puck inside the T-Birds blue line and skated up ice into the Portland zone. He waited for Mynio to come off the bench and passed him the puck. Mynio skated into the slot and unleashed the game winning shot.
Scott Ratzlaff made 52 saves, including five in overtime, to earn the win in net.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
The Thunderbirds were eliminated from playoff contention when the Spokane Chiefs defeated the Tri-City Americans, 7-6, Saturday in Spokane. It’s the first time since the 2011-12 season that the T-Birds have not qualified for the WHL postseason.
Seattle still has three home games remaining. In addition to the home game Tuesday against Kamloops, they host Spokane next Friday and finish the season next Sunday at home against Portland.
Jordan Gustafson’s second period goal was his 50th with the T-Birds in his 150th game. It also extended his point streak to six games (5g, 5a).
Jeremy Hanzel’s goal was his 14th of the season, surpassing the 13 he scored a season ago.
Boxscore: Portland Winterhawks at Seattle Thunderbirds – Sunday, March 17, 2024 (chl.ca)