T-Birds Trip up Tri-City
KENT, Wash. –Reid Schaefer delivered two goals and a pair of assists as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Tri-City Americans, 6-1, Friday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The win was Seattle’s ninth in a row, equaling their longest winning streak of the season and improving their record to 44-9-1-1. The Thunderbirds stay at home Saturday to host the Portland Winterhawks at 6:05 p.m.
Thunderbirds head coach Matt O’Dette called it a complete team win, especially with players out of the lineup with injuries and others leaving as the game went along. “A really solid game, with the injuries and guys going down, we needed other guys to step up and they did that.” He added the depth on the roster came through when they needed them to. “I thought some of our guys who got more ice time because of the injuries really came through for us and we needed everybody to get the job done tonight.”
The game started out with fireworks as both teams scored in the game’s first minute. Seattle struck first with a Brad Lambert goal just sixteen seconds in. Schaefer and Dylan Guenther had the assists. Thirty-three seconds later Tri-City responded with a Jaylen Luypen goal.
Seattle regained the lead when Schaefer struck on the power play at 2:35. Schaefer, who ended a 14-game goal-less streak Tuesday, now has goals in back-to-back games. “a 14-game drought, I wasn’t too happy with it. It’s nice to finally get the monkey off my back.” Gracyn Sawchyn and Guenther assisted on the go-ahead goal.
Still in the first period, the Thunderbirds added to their lead with another power play goal, this one from Kevin Korchinski, at 15:02. “The special teams were really good,” commented O’Dette. “The power play was snapping it around. It looked good every rep and two big goals.”
There was no scoring in the second period, but Seattle outshot the Americans in the period, 17-3. Then early in period three while shorthanded, Schaefer took a pass from Nico Myatovic, broke up ice and potted his second of the night. “With guys out of the lineup, I was just stepping up. It’s that next man up mentality,” said the Edmonton Oilers prospect. “It just goes to show the depth of our team. Everyone is participating and getting on the scoresheet.”
Sam Popowich and Tij Iginla closed out the scoring for Seattle. Scott Ratzlaff only had to make 15 saves to earn his 21st win and second of the week.
After this weekend Seattle will be on the road to start the month of March. They are in Kennewick next Friday to play the Americans at the Toyota Center then make their way to Everett next Saturday to face the Silvertips.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Both Brad Lambert and Kevin Korchinski extended their point streaks to nine games. Dylan Guenther ended the game with three assists and now has seven points (2g, 5a) in three games this season versus Tri-City.
During their current nine game winning streak the Thunderbirds have outscored the opposition, 49-9.
Seattle has equaled their win total from last season when they finished 44-18-4-2.
Kyle Crnkovic was out of the lineup for Seattle. He served a one game suspension imposed by the league for a five-minute Check to the Head major assessed in Tuesday’s game in Victoria. Jared Davidson missed the game with an upper body injury suffered Tuesday in Victoria. Colton Dach left the game in the second period with a lower body injury.
Boxscore: WHL Network
