T-Birds Trip ‘Tips
EVERETT. Wash. –Nishaan Parmar scored in overtime and the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Everett Silvertips, 4-3, Saturday at Angel of the Winds Arena. The win snapped the T-Birds five game losing streak. Seattle’s road trip continues early next week with a pair of games at the CN Centre in Prince George against the Cougars. Up first is a matinee game Monday at 3 p.m.
After Everett scored twice in the third period to tie the game at 3-3. Parmar won an offensive zone faceoff early in the extra period. He tied the puck up on the wall. Teammate Sam Popowich pulled the puck off the boards and got it back to Parmar who ripped it home at 1:24.
“It was a great play off the wall by Pop,” explained Parmar of his first WHL game winner. “Then it was a great look down hill, and luckily the shot went in.”
The Thunderbirds never trailed in the game. They got on top early when Eric Alarie intercepted a puck inside the Seattle blue line and raced up ice, firing in his team leading 16th of the season, just 53 seconds into the contest. Head coach Matt O’Dette said getting up early was part of the game plan.
“Getting off on the right foot was one of our keys tonight,” he remarked. “Great play from Larry. Turned on some speed there to get some separation to be able to get that shot off.”
The Thunderbirds doubled their lead with a first period power play goal from Sawyer Mynio at 12:44. Jeremy Hanzel and Nathan Pilling had the assists.
The teams traded goals in the second period. Everett got on the board at 8:35. Seattle answered with another power play goal eight minutes later as Popowich cleaned up a rebound of a Bryce Pickford shot. “It’s nice to get a win here,” said Popowich of his final game in Everett. “The goal was just a really nice play from Picks there. That one was a big one for sure.”
The Silvertips forced the tie with a pair of third period goals before Parmar and Popowich teamed up for the overtime winner.
“I thought the areas we needed improvement in were there tonight,” explained O’Dette. “We moved the puck much better. It wasn’t perfect, but we spent time in their end, we got pucks down low, we protected it much better and that helped us stem the tide.”
After two games on the road in Prince George, the T-Birds return home next Saturday to host Everett at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. Game time is 6:05 p.m.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
After Saturday’s results, Seattle remains in 10th place in the Western Conference standings, nine points out of a playoff spot.
Alarie has scored in three straight games. Parmar has six points (2g, 4a) in his last seven games.
Seattle finished 2-for-3 on the power play, ending a 0-for-21 drought with the man advantage.
In his last two starts versus Everett, goalie Scott Ratzlaff has turned aside 100 of 104 shots. “Lots of volume, they’re a very direct team,” said O’Dette. “Scotty was very good tonight.”
The T-Birds continue to play without Nico Myatovic, Jordan Gustafson, Coster Dunn and Simon Lovsin, all out with upper body injuries. Seattle has now lost 167 games to injury this season.
This was the final trip to Everett this season for the Thunderbirds.
Boxscore: Seattle Thunderbirds at Everett Silvertips – Saturday, February 17, 2024 (chl.ca)