T-Birds Shut Out Chiefs Behind 35 Saves From Thomas Milic
Roulette and Jeri-Leon each score twice in 5-0 win over Spokane
SPOKANE, March 26, 2021 — Thomas Milic had 35 saves and Conner Roulette and Keltie Jeri-Leon each had two goals Friday night at the Spokane Arena to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-0 shutout of the Spokane Chiefs.
The game against the Chiefs was broadcast on JOEtv Cable 22/Channel 110. The T-Birds play back-to-back games against Portland Winterhawks on Saturday and Sunday at accesso ShoWare Center and both games will be broadcast on JOEtv at 5:05pm. These are two of the four T-Bird games on JOEtv in March. Ian Furness will have the play-by-play and Andy Eide will provide the analysis.
Milic earned his first WHL shutout with nine saves in the first period, 15 saves in the second period and 10 saves in third period. He stopped Erik Atchison on a breakaway in the second period and Adam Beckman on a breakaway in the third period.
Congratulations to Thomas Milic who earned his first career WHL shutout tonight. #LetsGoBirds pic.twitter.com/YWzS6MBXWz
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 27, 2021
Seattle had a 2-0 lead after one period courtesy of the first goals of the season from Davidson and Roulette, who each had three points in the game.
Jeremy Hanzel gained the offensive zone and dropped the puck to Roulette in the left circle. Roulette’s pass went off a skate and right to Davidson trailing the play. Davidson snapped a wrist shot past Spokane goalie Campbell Arnold at 7:12 of the opening period.
The Visit Kent First Goal Of The Game is scored by Jared Davidson. Find out more about Kent now https://t.co/zpbZIos1M8 #LetsGoBirds pic.twitter.com/LHSbgpImmi
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 27, 2021
Davidson banked the puck off the left boards in the neutral zone to put Roulette on a partial break. Roulette skated into the left circle and hit the top right corner of the net with a hard wrist shot at 18:31 of the period.
Conner Roulette gets his first goal of the season, with 1:29 left in the first period, to give us a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. #LetsGoBirds pic.twitter.com/qzViRat5ry
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 27, 2021
Roulette scored his second goal of the night at 7:51 of the second period to extend the T-Birds lead to 3-0. Davidson moved the puck out of the corner and up the right boards to Lucas Ciona who got it out of the zone to spring Roulette on a two-on-one break. Roulette came down the right and at the goal line put the puck off a defenseman and past Arnold.
Roulette's second of the night puts us in front 3-0.
🍎 Davidson. His third point of the game.
🍏 Ciona.
#LetsGoBirds pic.twitter.com/u3a5XcB6Ji— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 27, 2021
A really good play by rookie Gabe Ludwig set up the T-Birds fourth goal. Ludwig stole the puck from a Chiefs player along the right boards in the neutral zone to set up a two-on-one with Keltie Jeri-Leon. Ludwig carried the puck into the zone and then crossed it to Jeri-Leon alone in front of Arnold. Jeri-Leo made a nice move and beat Arnold at the right post at 4:48 of the third period.
Gabe Ludwig with a really good play to steal the puck and set up the two-on-one.
Then another good play on the pass to set up Jeri-Leon.#LetsGoBirds pic.twitter.com/pvqQiYN7HS
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 27, 2021
Jeri-Leon iced the game at 15:50 of the third on the power play. Kevin Korchinski passed the puck from the left point to Jeri-Leon at center ice. Jeri-Leon skated into the right circle and beat Arnold with a wrist shot with traffic in front of goalie. Matthew Rempe had the second assist.
The T-Birds had to kill off an interference penalty to Tyrel Bauer in the last three minutes of the game to preserve the shutout. Sam Popowich had a nice shot block on the penalty kill where he laid out to make the stop on a point shot.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Davidson 1 (Roulette, Hanzel), 7:12. 2, Seattle, Roulette 1 (Davidson), 18:31. Penalties – Bateman, Sea (cross checking), 8:37. Chudley, Spo (tripping, major-fighting), 17:01. McNelly, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct, major-fighting), 17:01.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Roulette 2 (Davidson, Ciona), 7:51. Penalties – No penalties.
Third period – 4, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 3 (Ludwig), 4:48. 5, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 4 (Korchinski, Rempe), 15:50 (pp). Penalties – Lane, Spo (hooking), 15:06. Bauer, Sea (interference), 16:43.
Shots on goal – Seattle 9-11-10 30, Spokane 9-15-11 35. Goalies – Seattle, Milic 35 shots-35 saves (2-1-0-0); Spokane, Arnold 30-25 (0-2-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-1; Spokane 0-2. Referees – Ian Jendro, Mark Heier. Linesmen – Rance Hughes, Daniel Spore.
