Blades Slide Past T-Birds in Volcan's 300th Game
January 8, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
SASKATOON, SK - Seattle Thunderbirds captain Nolan Volcan had a goal and an assist in his 300th career game as a T-Bird Tuesday night at the SaskTel Centre as the T-Birds fell 4-3 to the Saskatoon Blades.
Volcan is in his fifth season with the T-Birds and has 88 goals and 125 assists for 213 points in those 300 games. In 49 career playoff games Volcan has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points.
This was the third game of a six-game road trip through the East Division. The T-Birds are 1-2-0-0 on the road trip, which continues against the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday, January 9. The last two games on the road trip are Friday, January 11, against the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saturday, January 12 against the Swift Current Broncos.
Seattle jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 6:35 of the first period. Jared Davidson won a faceoff in the right circle back to Zach Ashton at the right point. Davidson and Tyler Carpendale, playing left wing, screened Saskatoon goalie Dorrin Luding as Ashton took a wrist shot. Ashton beat Luding low for his first career WHL goal.
Saskatoon tied the game 1-1 at 15:24 of the first period on a goal by Kyle Crnkovic. Eric Florchuk had the only assist.
The Blades went in front 2-1 at 17:30 of the first on a power-play goal by Josh Paterson. Crnkovic and Emil Malysjev.
Volcan tied the game 2-2 with 36 seconds left in the first. Matthew Wedman won a faceoff in the right zone back to Tyrel Bauer at the right point. Bauer skated forward and then dropped the puck for Volcan who skated into the high slot. Volcan beat Luding five-hole with a wrist shot for his 15th goal of the season.
Both teams had 12 shots on goal in the first period.
A great play by Volcan as the team played four-on-four gave the T-Birds a 3-2 lead at 4:36 of the second period. Volcan battled through a Blades defenseman as the puck was heading to the right corner of the offensive zone. Just below the right faceoff circle Volcan was able to backhand the puck to Wedman in the low slot. Wedman chipped the puck over the outstretched right pad of Luding for his 13th goal of the season.
Saskatoon tied the game 3-3 at 13:49 of the second on a goal by Chase Wouters. Dawson Davidson and Max Gerlach had the assists.
Florchuk put the Blades in front 4-3 at 17:20 of the second. Aidan De La Gorgendiere and Crnkovic had the assists.
The T-Birds had a 27-18 leads in shots after two periods by outshooting the Blades 15-6 in the second period.
Seattle pulled goalie Cole Schwebius with 1:22 left in the game for the extra attacker. The T-Birds kept the pressure on Luding but were not able to get the tying goal.
Seattle outshot Saskatoon 36-32 in the game.
Schwebius had 28 saves on 32 shots as Luding had 33 saves on 36 shots.
The T-Birds next home game is Saturday, January 19, against the Victoria Royals at 6:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
The T-Birds are now taking orders for Flex-24 Ticket packages. Fans that purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Seattle, Davidson 2 (Ashton, Mount), 6:35. 2, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 4 (Florchuk), 15:24. 3, Saskatoon, Paterson 14 (Crnkovic, Malysjev), 17:30 (pp). 4, Seattle, Volcan 15 (Bauer, Wedman), 19:24. Penalties - Wouters, Sas (interference), 1:49. Tyszka, Sea (slashing), 15:47.
Second period - 5, Seattle, Wedman 13 (Volcan), 4:36. 6, Saskatoon, Wouters 25 (Gerlach, Davidson) 13:49. 7, Saskatoon, Florchuk 11 (De La Gorgendiere, Crnkovic), 17:20. Penalties - Davidson, Sea (roughing), 3:55. McKay, Sas (roughing), 3:55. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Mount), 8:41.
Third period - No scoring. Penalties - Wouters, Sas (major-fighting), 6:33. Wedman, Sea (major-fighting), 6:33. Rybinski, Sea (high-sticking), 10:26. Crnkovic, Sas (tripping), 12:26.
Shots on goal - Seattle 12-15-9 36, Saskatoon 12-6-14 32. Goalies - Seattle, Schwebius 32 shots-28 saves (1-5-1-0); Saskatoon, Luding 36-33 (5-4-1-0). Power plays - Seattle 0-2; Saskatoon 1-3. A - 3,037. Referees - Fraser Lawrence, Brian MacDonald. Linesmen - Tanner McGregor, Devan Thiessen.
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