Giants Defeat T-Birds in Game 5, Game 6 Saturday at Accesso ShoWare Center
March 30, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - The Vancouver Giants defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Game 5 of a first round playoff series between the teams.
Vancouver leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.
Game 6 of the series is Saturday at accesso ShoWare Center at 6:05pm. Single game tickets for Game 6 are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
Seattle needs to win Game 6 to force a Game 7 on Tuesday, April 2, in Vancouver.
Vancouver took a 1-0 lead at 7:06 of the first period on a goal by Dylan Plouffe.
The Giants went in front 2-0 at 12:58 of the first when Jadon Joseph scored on the power play.
Seattle cut the Giants lead to one on the power play at 14:14 of the first. Andrej Kukuca took a shot from the left circle that was blocked. Matthew Wedman fired the loose puck at Vancouver goalie Trent Miner and it was deflected behind the net. Henrik Rybinski got the puck and centered it to Wedman on top of the crease. Wedman put the puck past Miner for his third goal of the playoffs.
Noah Philp tied the game 2-2 at 3:57 of the second period on the power play. Andrej Kukuca blocked a Vancouver clearing with his upper body to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Kukuca skated to his right and then centered to Jarret Tyszka at the mid-point. Tyszka passed the puck to Philp in the left circle and he one-timed the puck past Miner on the glove side.
Seattle goalie Roddy Ross had a stellar second period stopping five prime Giants scoring chances to keep the game tied 2-2. Ross stopped Davis Koch on a breakaway and minutes later denied Owen Hardy cutting left to right through the low slot. Ross stopped Koch alone in front at 9:15 of the second then robbed Jared Dmytriw on a breakaway with 3:41 left in the second. Ross stopped Koch on a two-on-one shorthanded break with under a minute to go in the second.
Vancouver took a 3-2 lead at 4:43 of the third period on a goal from Dallas Hines.
Ross finished with 30 saves and Miner had 25 saves.
Vancouver vs. Seattle
Game 1 At Vancouver 7, Seattle 1
Game 2 Seattle 4, at Vancouver 1
Game 3 Vancouver 6, at Seattle 4
Game 4 At Seattle 4, Vancouver 3
Game 5 At Vancouver 3, Seattle 2
Game 6 Vancouver @ Seattle Saturday, March 30, 6:05pm
Game 7 Seattle @ Vancouver Tuesday, April 2, 7pm*
*if necessary
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Vancouver, Plouffe 4 (Hardy, Holt), 7:06. 2, Vancouver, Joseph 4 (Roman, Plouffe), 12:58 (pp). 3, Seattle, Wedman 3 (Rybinski, Kukuca), 12:58 (pp). Penalties - Kubicek, Sea (holding), 2:39. Joseph, Van (cross checking), 9:52. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Mount), 11:30. Dmytriw, Van (slashing), 14:03.
Second period - 4, Seattle, Philp 2 (Tyszka, Kukuca), 3:57 (pp). Penalties - Bulych, Van (cross checking), 2:54. Nielsen, Van (cross checking), 18:36.
Third period - 5, Vancouver, Hines 2 (Byram, Hardy), 4:43. Penalties - Dmytriw, Van (goaltender interference), 1:06. Volcan, Sea (kneeing), 10:40. Kubicek, Sea (double minor-roughing), 19:54. Wedman, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 19:54. Byram, Van (10-minute misconduct), 19:54. Joseph, Van (roughing), 19:54.
Shots on goal - Seattle 12-10-5 27, Vancouver 11-15-7 33. Goalies - Seattle, Ross 33 shots-30 saves (2-3); Vancouver, Miner 27-25 (2-1). Power plays - Seattle 2-5; Vancouver 1-3. A - 4,627. Referees - Adam Bloski, Mike Langin. Linesmen - Michael Bean, Adam Harris.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2019
- Tremendous Hawks Season Comes to a Close - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Season Ends in Game 6 Loss to Giants - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Kastelic Helps Lift Hitmen to Series Lead - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL Playoffs: Round One Preview - Game #5 - Portland Winterhawks
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, March 30 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants Edge Thunderbirds 3-2 in Game 5, Take a 3-2 Series Lead - Vancouver Giants
- Giants Defeat T-Birds in Game 5, Game 6 Saturday at Accesso ShoWare Center - Seattle Thunderbirds
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