T-Birds Season Comes to a Close with 5-3 OT Loss
April 8, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, April 7, 2015 - The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-4 in overtime Tuesday night in Game 6 of their first round playoff series. Portland's win eliminated the T-Birds from the playoffs. Seattle went 38-25-4-5 and finished third in the U.S. Division this season, good enough for their third consecutive trip to the playoffs. The Winterhawks will now face off against either the Everett Silvertips or Spokane Chiefs in the second round of the playoffs.
A lucky bounce off a Portland defender on a dump-in gave Mathew Barzal Seattle's best chance of the first half of overtime. Barzal was forced to shoot early as the Portland defense reacted to the play and goalie Adin Hill was able to glove the shot.
Alexander True managed a backhanded rebound shot that nearly went in at 12:07. Hill was able to get his chest in front of the puck but couldn't quite catch it, forcing him to fall on it as Seattle's forwards crashed the net.
Cory Millette fired from in the faceoff dot at 13:54. His shot appeared to be going wide before taking a soft bounce off a Portland defender. Hill had to turn and jump onto the puck as it rolled toward the back of the net, just making it in time.
Nic Petan won the game for the Winterhawks at 19:01 with a shot from deep within the faceoff circle. The shot just barely made it over Seattle goaltender Taran Kozun's glove-side shoulder and bounced off the inside of the crossbar for the goal.
Shots were 13-7 Portland in overtime.
Kozun stopped 36 of 41 shots but still came away with the loss. Hill won his fourth game of the series after making 46 saves on 50 shots.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored on a rebound for Portland to make it 1-0. Paul Bittner's shot from the top of the faceoff circle hit off a body in front and bounced straight to Bjorkstrand. Bjorkstrand's shot came before Kozun could reposition himself after his reaction to the initial shot. The goal at 8:53 of the first period, assisted by Bittner and Chase De Leo, was Bjorkstrand's fourth of the series.
Kozun made an incredible save after a giveaway in the zone to keep the score as it was. Petan stole an outlet pass and got the puck to the side of the net, where a diving Evan Wardley was able to buy Kozun enough time to get in position. The shot came as Kozun tried to stand back up after diving across the crease and got just enough of Kozun's glove to stay out of the net. The Seattle defense cleared the puck from there to end the scoring chance.
Scott Eansor's two-on-one breakaway ended with a goal to tie the game at 14:48. Eansor stole the puck from a Portland defender in the Seattle zone then skated forward with just one man in front of him. Donovan Neuls followed Eansor into the zone and faded toward the opposite side of the net, forcing the defender to split the difference. Eansor's shot hit off Hill's pads and trickled in just before Neuls and the Portland defender could reach it. The goal was Eansor's fourth of the series.
Shots were 12-10 Seattle in the first period.
The Winterhawks scored again at 2:17 of the second, with Dominic Turgeon picking up the goal this time. Adam Henry wrapped around the back of the goal and fired as he floated around the right side. The shot hit off of Turgeon, who was battling for position in the crease, and bounced into the net to make it 2-1.
Bjorkstrand added a second goal at 3:23. The Danish winger's shot from the side of the net squeaked between Kozun's arm and the post for the goal.
Shea Theodore created on his own and ended up with a fantastic goal to make it 3-2. Theodore carried the puck into the zone on a line change and beat his defender. Theodore had enough room to skate across the crease and past Hill before calmly flipping the puck home. Jerret Smith and Evan Wardley assisted on the goal.
Millette tipped a Theodore point shot into the back of the net during a Seattle power play at 11:37. The play immediately went to review as to whether Millette had used a high stick to do so but was ruled a good goal, tying the game. Theodore and Barzal assisted. The assist gave Theodore two points in the period.
Shots were 16-14 Seattle in a second period that ended with the score tied 3-3.
Wardley's shift to forward after Portland's third goal continued to spark the T-Birds, who controlled the pace of the game with physical play up and down the ice. The Winterhawks didn't record a shot on goal until 9:15 in the third period.
Portland took back the lead with a Miles Koules wraparound goal at 11:25. The goal was unassisted.
Eansor scored with 1:40 left in the game to tie it back up and keep the T-Birds' season alive. Eansor skated in from the sideboards until he was between the bottom of the faceoff dot and the crease. From there, Eansor fired away and rifled the puck through Hill for his second goal of the night.
Seattle led in shots 15-4 in the third period.
Seattle vs. Portland First Round Series
Game 1 - Seattle 4, at Portland 3
Game 2 - At Portland 3, Seattle 0
Game 3 - At Seattle 5, Portland 2
Game 4 - Portland 8, at Seattle 5
Game 5 - At Portland 5, Seattle 3
Game 6 - Portland 5, at Seattle 4 (OT)
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