Aaron Gagnon has a hat-trick in 7-2 win over Tri-City
Published on March 31, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
SEATTLE, WA - Aaron Gagnon's hat-trick in Game 6 of the opening round of the WHL playoffs propelled the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 7-2 win over the Tri-City Americans Saturday night and into the next round.
Seattle awaits their second round opponent that will be determined by the Everett/ Spokane series. If Spokane wins, Seattle will host the Chiefs at the KeyArena. If Everett wins, Seattle will travel to Vancouver to face the Giants. Everett currently leads the series 3-2, with Game 6 of that series on Sunday, April 1. All game dates and times are to be determined.
Seattle wins the series 4-2. The T-Birds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at 2:55 of the first period. Tri-City defensemen Tyler Schmidt chased down the loose puck in his own zone and attempted to clear the puck by wrapping it around the boards from left-to-right. He sent the puck towards his own goal and wound up drilling it in the back of the net past Americans goaltender Carey Price. Prab Rai was credited with his first goal of the playoffs on the play.
The T-Birds made it 2-0 at 10:24 of the first on a short-handed goal from Aaron Gagnon. Gagnon stole the puck near center ice and skated into the Tri-City zone with the defender on his right hip. With the American player trying to bring him down, Gagnon managed to take the puck right, bring it back left, and sneak it past the outstretched leg of Price for his third goal of the playoffs. Jan Eberle had the lone assist. Seattle outshot Tri-City 13-8 in the first.
Gagnon did it again at 13:12 of the second period and got his fourth goal of the playoffs. Gagnon and Rai used hockey's version of the give-and-go as they entered into the Tri-City zone. Gagnon hit Rai on the right side and continued into the slot. Rai slid the puck into the slot for the easy poke in past Price at the left post. Bud Holloway also assisted on the power-play goal.
Gagnon completed the hat-trick at 16:33 of the second on another power-play goal. Thomas Hickey hit Rai along the goal line at the near boards. Rai circled and waited for an opening to slide a pass through the slot to Gagnon posted up in the left crease. Gagnon muscled it in to beat Price low at the left post.
The T-Birds added another at 17:26 of the second on the second goal of the playoffs from Ian McKenzie. McKenzie fought through a crowed gathered in front of the net to bang it in at the left post. Andre Herman and Radek Meidl had the assists.
The T-Birds added another at 17:50 of the second on the first goal of the playoffs from Josh Schappert. An American attempted to clear the puck from the zone and hit Price in the leg. The puck trickled into the crease and was poked in by Schappert.
Seattle outshot Tri-City 14-8 in the second and led 27- 16 through two periods.
The Americans (2-4) got on the board at 3:23 of the third on a goal from Joel Broda. Kruise Reddick and Tanner Gillies had the assists.
Broda added another for the Americans at 5:11 of the third. Reddick had the lone assist.
Benn Olson added one at 17:11 of the third on his first goal of the playoffs. Olson fired a one-timer from the point that beat Chet Pickard high on the stick side. Meidl and Schappert had the assists.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 12-5 in the third. The T-Birds outshot the Americans 32-29 on the night.
Derek Yeomans stopped 24 of 26 shots attempted by the Americans. His playoff record goes to 4-2.
Jacob DeSerres, who entered the game with 3:36 left in the game, stopped 3 of 3 shots he saw in the third period.
Priced finished his night stopping 21 of 27 shots and his playoff record fell to 2-4.
Chet Pickard stopped 4 of 5 shots he faced in the third period.
When dates and match-ups are determined for round two, single game and playoff ticket packages can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 206-628-0888 or online at www.seattlethunderbirds.com. Playoff tickets can also be purchased by calling 206-448-PUCK (7825) or at all TicketMaster outlets, the KeyArena West Box Office Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and The Hockey Store located at 14326 124th Ave NE in Kirkland.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2007
- Aaron Gagnon has a hat-trick in 7-2 win over Tri-City - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings advance to Eastern Conference Semi-Finals - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Six Sunday in Spokane - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Win OT Thriller, Force Game Six in Seattle - Tri-City Americans
- Americans beat T-Birds in dramatic game five - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Silvertips Win Game Five - Everett Silvertips
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