Seattle Shots Fly But T-Birds Come Up Short
Published on January 24, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
SEATTLE, JANUARY 23, 2004 â The Seattle Thunderbirds scored early against the Portland Winter Hawks tonight in Seattle's KeyArena. The Western Hockey League game marked the seventh meeting between the two teams; the T-Birds would follow up the early goal with two solid periods of hockey, but would be unable to post the win.
Steven Goertzen opened the scoring at 1:17 of the first. His shot beat Portland goalie, Dustin Butler, in between the pads igniting the more than 6,000 fans. It would the first of Seattle's eventual 29 shots on the night. Aaron Gagnon and Clayton Barthel were credited with assists on Goertzen's 11th goal of the year.
The early goal and strong play through the game's first 40 minutes wouldn't be enough as the T-Birds fell and evened the season series between the two teams at 3-3-1-0; the series leveling game ended in Portland favor 2-1.
The Seattle sticks continued to out shoot the opponent in tonight's game. Despite posting the 29 shots, put on the Portland goal, the game's second star (Butler) would post 28 saves. This marked the 35th of the 47 games played by Seattle to this point in the season in which the T-Birds have out shot their opponent.
With the loss, the T-Birds fall to a season record of 14-23-8-2, good for 38 points in the WHL's U.S. Division. Portland improved to 23-20-4-1.
On the heels of a 4-0 shut out this last Wednesday in KeyArena against the Tri-city Americans, Seattle goalie, Brian Bridges, made 26 saves but suffered the loss. His record is now 9-14-3.
For Portland, Brandon Dubinskyâthe game's first star with on goal and one assistâwould tie the game at 9:22 of the first with his 24th goal of the year with help from Dan Da Silva. The goal would not only tie the game but would end Bridges shut-out streak at 97:51 minutes. The game would see no scoring for the next 34 plus minutes. Da Silva ended that when he scored his 26th of the year at 4:45 of the third. Robin Big Snake and Dubinsky would get assists.
Seattle travels north on Saturday to take on the Vancouver Giants in a home-and-home series that will see the T-Birds take on the Giants Sunday at KeyArena. The Sunday game will mark the completion of a four-games-in-five-nights stretch for Seattle; the puck will drop at 5:05 p.m.
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THREE STARS:
1âBrandon Dubinsky Portland
2â Dustin Butler, Portland
3â Aaron Gagnon, Seattle
Western Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2004
- Brandon Wheat Kings Game Notes - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Seattle Shots Fly But T-Birds Come Up Short - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Winter Hawks Win Fourth In A Row - Portland Winterhawks
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