T-Birds Blast Past Rockets
March 2, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. - The Seattle Thunderbirds scored two goals in the game's final minute, including Sam Knazko's game winner with twelve seconds left, and came from behind to defeat the Kelowna Rockets, 4-3, Tuesday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and put the T-birds back in fourth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Kelowna. Seattle is on the road for their next game, traveling to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans Friday at the Toyota Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
"Huge character win for our team," said T-birds head coach Matt O'Dette after the game. "To keep pushing, the never-say-die attitude was nice to see. Sometimes the hockey gods take care of you." O'Dette said his team played well during their three-game losing streak but weren't getting the bounces. "We deserved a better fate in some of these recent losses and if you stick with it, sometimes you get rewarded."
Seattle (31-14-4-1) opened the scoring midway through the first period when Matt Rempe tipped in a shot from Chase Lacombe at 12:02. Sam Oremba had the second assist. The goal was Rempe's 13th of the season and came against Rockets goalie Talyn Boyko who, like Rempe, is a New York Rangers prospect. "Me and Boyks are buddies. It's fun to score a goal on him and get to hold that over his head a little bit. He's a good guy, but it's good for us to get the win tonight." Rempe said he knows it's his job to go to the net and look for greasy goals. "I'm a big body, I want to go to the net. It's where I'm going to score a lot of my goals. Great shot by Comer, happy it went in."
It looked like the T-birds would carry the one-goal lead into the first intermission but in the final seconds of the period, the Rockets tied things up at 1-1 on an Adam Kydd goal at 19:45. O'Dette liked his team's first period, minus the late mistake. "Our first period was really good. We were playing our formula to a tee. The mistake at the end of the period obviously gave them some life."
Kelowna grabbed their first lead of the game midway through the second period when Mark Liwiski deflected in his 17th goal of the season at 9:27 giving the Rockets the edge going into the third period. Seattle got an early power play chance at the start of the third and Reid Schaefer converted, scoring his team leading 26th goal just 52-seconds in. Lukas Svejkovsky and Jared Davidson had the assists.
The Rockets went back up, 3-2, midway through the final period when Gabriel Szturc knocked home his 11th of the season while Kelowna was skating with the mad advantage. The Thunderbirds comeback started with them pulling the goalie for the extra attacker with under two minutes remaining. Eventually Svejkovsky pounced on a loose puck and scored at 19:01 to forge a 3-3 tie.
That set up Knazko's heroics as he chipped home a loose puck in front of the Kelowna net at 19:48. Schaefer and Lucas Ciona had the assists on the game winning goal.
O'Dette praised his team for sticking with it and fighting through their recent funk. "The way we finished, it was fun to see and really good four our kids. They put a lot into it. We take our losses hard; the guys want to win so bad. It's ice to see them happy in the room."
In addition to their game in Kennewick Friday against the Tri-City Americans, the Thunderbirds will be up in Everett Saturday versus the Silvertips. Seattle's next home game is Sunday, March 6th as they host Tri-City at 5:05 p.m.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Henrik Rybinski missed his second consecutive game dealing with an upper body injury suffered Saturday versus Everett. He is listed as day-to-day.
Meanwhile, Rybinski signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Washington Capitals Tuesday. Rybinski was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, but was not signed, making him a free agent, eligible to sign with any team.
It was the third straight game Seattle hit the 40-shot barrier, outshooting the Rockets 40-20.
Thomas Milic reached the 20-win plateau, stopping 17 shots to improve to 20-12-2-1.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2022
- WHL Statement Regarding Russian Invasion of Ukraine - WHL
- Reminder: No Winterhawks Home Game Tonight - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Start B.C. Road Trip in Kamloops Wednesday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings Heat up in Season's Stretch Drive - WHL
- Pats End Four Game Road Swing in Brandon - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Blast Past Rockets - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Seattle Rallies to Knock off Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
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