Seattle Ties, T-Birds Close Possible Playoff Gap to Eight Points
Published on February 5, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
VANCOUVER B.C., FEBRUARY 4, 2004 â The Seattle Thunderbirds (16-25-8-4) and the Vancouver Giants (23-19-8-5) played tonight in Western Hockey League action at the Pacific Coliseum. The game went into overtime as the result of a 1-1 tie after 60 minutes.
Seattle's Tyler Metcalfe tried to end the overtime quickly for the T-Birds, but he hit the cross bar on a shot only seconds in the extra period. However, an unassisted goal for the Giants ended the game. The overtime goal came at 3:53 when Vancouver's Mitch Bartley dashed the T-Birds' hopes of gaining the second point. The giants won the game 2-1 on Bartley's 26th goal of the year.
Seattle's Steven Goertzen made a pass at his own blue line that was stolen by Mitch Bartley who scored his 26th goal of the year at 3:53 into the overtime period. It was the only official shot on goal in the overtime period.
The game began seeing Seattle's habit of scoring early in the first period reared up again. Aaron Gagnon won a faceoff in the offensive zone and slid a pass back to Justin Maiser just above the hash marks. Maiser snapped off a one timer that beat Vancouver goalie Aaron Sorochan high on the glove side. It was his ninth of the season at 1:40.
The second period was scoreless but not uneventful as over 60 minutes in penalties were called. Each team had the opportunity to skate 5-on-3 but neither side could take advantage of the power plays, going a combined 0-for-8.
The third period saw the same story line as did the secondâuntil the clocked showed 2:01 left to play. Seattle's Clayton Barthel lost the puck behind his own net with Giant Adam Courchaine on him. In an effort to get back into the play and hustle to the aid of a now-vulnerable goalie, Bryan Bridges, Barthel accidentally screened Bridges. Courchaine beat Bridges between the pads at 17:59 to score his 30th goal of the year and tie a game that had seen 55:49 of game time pass without any scoring.
The Thunderbirds play back-to-back games against the Portland Winter Hawks this weekend. They host the Winter Hawks Friday, at KeyArena then travel down to the Rose Garden in Portland Saturday. Seattle completes the weekend with a home game Sunday against the Prince George Cougars.
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THREE STARS:
1âMitch Bartley, Vancouver
2âJustin Maiser, Seattle
3âAdam Courchaine, Vancouver
Western Hockey League Stories from February 5, 2004
- King and Valcak Return to the Enmax Centre - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Americans Weekly Update - Tri-City Americans
- Wheat Kings vs. Raiders on Sportsnet - Brandon Wheat Kings
- CHL announces Canada Post winners - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Brandon Wheat Kings Game Notes - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Seattle Ties, T-Birds Close Possible Playoff Gap to Eight Points - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Winter Hawks Win, Close in on First Place - Portland Winterhawks
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