T-Birds Fall Just Short Against Moose Jaw
KENT, Wash. –A furious finish came up just short and the Seattle Thunderbirds fell, 4-2, to the Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The loss snapped Seattle’s three game winning streak. The Thunderbirds conclude their three-game weekend Sunday in Langley, B.C. against the Vancouver Giants. Game time is 4:00 p.m.
The Thunderbirds fell behind 3-0 after two periods but fought back, scoring twice in the third period to close within 3-2. Nico Myatovic got the T-birds on the board at 9:43, assisted by Simon Lovsin and Kaleb Hartmann. Sawyer Mynio scored his 13th of the season less than five minutes later with Lovsin and Jordan Gustafson assisting.
The T-Birds pulled goalie Spencer Michnik with two minutes remaining for an extra attacker but, despite a couple of late chances, couldn’t find the tying goal. Moose Jaw ended the suspense, scoring into the empty net with four seconds remaining.
“I thought, overall, we played really well,” said head coach Matt O’Dette of his team’s effort. “There were mistakes that led to the goals against but considering the travel (after playing last night in Kamloops), and getting in really late, we had the energy and the juice in the tank to make that push at the end which was impressive.”
Moose Jaw was awarded three power plays in the first period and converted late on the third to grab a 1-0 lead through twenty minutes. “I thought we did a really good job on the penalty kill,” remarked O’Dette. “They’re as dangerous as you can get for a power play. They’ve been almost automatic on this road trip they’re on. We did a good job, we had them frustrated. It was just a shot block that we missed.”
The Warriors added to their lead with a goal early in the second period, and another late. The third goal, which would stand as the game winner, came moments after Seattle rang a shot off the crossbar that would have made it 2-1. “Those are the breaks that we’re not getting,” said O’Dette. “But you have to earn your breaks and we made a mistake on that play letting their guy get behind us.”
In a rare night off for Scott Ratzlaff, Michnik got the start in net for the Thunderbirds and gave his team a chance to be in the game late, with a 34-save effort. “That’s a tough assignment,” commented O’Dette of his young goalie’s performance. “That team, on their road trip, has put up nine, twelve and eight goals, so a potent offensive attack and Michy gave us a chance to win.”
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
The Thunderbirds went the entire game without being awarded a power play while Moose Jaw went 3-for-4 on the man advantage. O’Dette thought his team did enough to draw a few penalties but didn’t get the chance to utilize their power play.
O’Dette needs one more win to become the second winningest coach in franchise history. He is currently tied with his predecessor, Steve Konowalchuk, with 219. Rob Sumner tops the list with 237.
The T-Birds fell 10 points back of Spokane for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after the Chiefs earned a point Saturday with an overtime loss in Prince George. The T-Birds play each other twice next weekend.
Boxscore: Moose Jaw Warriors at Seattle Thunderbirds – Saturday, March 2, 2024 (chl.ca)