WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

In The Corners with Thom Beuning

January 5, 2005 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD: Normally, if you play three games in four nights and win two, you're pretty satisfied with the results, especially if you win at home and split two on the road. In fact, that's usually a pretty good formula for success; win your home games and play .500 away from the friendly confines. Of course we all know the results of last week's play leaves a sour taste in our mouths because of the way the T-Birds lost the game in Everett. Seattle was dominant for two periods in building a two-goal lead on the Silvertips, but somewhere between leaving the ice at the end of the second and returning for the start of the third the ‘Birds lost their mojo. As a result, for the first time this season Seattle lost a game it led going into the third period. Oh well, so now the team is 18-1 in those situations.

It was also the first time Seattle lost a game in which it scored first. They dropped to 20-1 in those situations. But isn't that a remarkable number! Seattle has scored first in over half its games and has won 99 percent of the time it does that! I think we are all guilty of being disappointed with the team's effort in a loss, especially when they lead 2-0 after two periods. But don't lose sight of the fact the T-Birds have only lost 10 times in 36 games! They have already eclipsed their win total from a season ago and it took them less than half the season to accomplish it.

IT'S ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE: The T-Birds were the last team in the WHL to reach the mid-point of the 2004-05 season. They reached that halfway point with more wins than any other team in the league (25) and thus have the league's best winning percentage. Many of the teams who are close to the T-Birds in the win column have played as many as five more games. There are two other items of note from the first half of the season. Despite that loss in Everett, the Thunderbirds have compiled a superb road record of 14-5-1 and their record within the Division is 12-3.

HOME SWEET HOME: While Seattle begins the second half of the season on the road, 21 of the next 36 games will be played on home ice. The T-Birds longest stretch of road games in the second half is later this month when they go away for three between January 14th and 20th. The good news is none of those three games are on back-to-back nights. Of course the third of those three games is in Prince George against the Cougars. Nice town PG, but that's a long bus ride up and back for just one game.

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK: Just as they did this past week, the T-Birds play three games in four nights. It begins this evening with a trek over the mountains to play Spokane. The Chiefs may currently sit in 5th place in the U.S. Division, but they are only two points from the 4th spot and just five points behind 3rd place Portland, with two games in hand on the Winter Hawks.

The T-Birds come home over the weekend for a pair of big games. First up on Friday are the Kelowna Rockets, leaders of the B.C. Division. Seattle blanked the Rockets 4-0 back on October 15th at the Key, so you know Kelowna is bent on revenge. It's also big because in the battle for top spot in the Western Conference the Rockets currently lead the Thunderbirds by three points, 54-51, although Seattle has five games in hand.

Finally the T-Birds welcome the Tri-City Americans to town Saturday. Seattle has won each of the previous four meetings against the Ams this season, including a 3-0 shutout at the Key on October 24th. It will be the first of two straight games against Tri-City as Seattle travels to Kennewick for a rematch next Tuesday. Oddly enough, next week's game will be Seattle's last trip to Kennewick this season.

DID YOU KNOW: The T-Birds are a combined 6-1 against their three opponents this week? The Thunderbirds have outscored first place Kelowna and 4th place Tri-City by a combined 15-3 with three shutouts in five games.

This season Seattle Thunderbirds play-by-play voice Thom Beuning is writing a weekly column for Thunderbirds E-News. Each week Thom will take an in-depth look at the T-Birds. He will wrap up the previous week's games and preview upcoming T-Bird opponents. Thom will also spotlight T-Birds who are making contributions that you won't see on the score sheet. You can listen to the game on KKNW, 1150-AM or on the webcast at www.seattlethunderbirds.com. The broadcast begins with the T-birds pregame show, "Crash the Net" 25-minutes before the first period face-off.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2005


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