T-Birds Can't Claw Past Cougars
October 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. - A goal in the first minute of the third period helped the Prince George Cougars pull away and defeat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 5-2, Friday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The Thunderbirds have a quick turnaround. They are in Spokane Saturday to face their division rivals, the Spokane Chiefs, at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
"It's just the game management stuff we talk about," said head coach Matt O'Dette of the loss. "You've got to play a really clean game against those types of teams. We're not defending as well as we'd like right now. We're duplicating some of the mistakes that are getting us in the D-zone."
Prince George grabbed a 2-0 first period lead with goals ten minutes apart. The T-Birds (1-3-1-0) responded with a power play goal with ten seconds remaining in the period. Arjun Bawa, a former Cougar, scored his second goal in as many games. Brayden Holberton and Sawyer Mynio picked up the assists.
"I thought the goal was a combination of good pressure, good movement," remarked O'Dette. "We had multiple looks at the net. We broke down their penalty kill with that one."
Prince George got that one back with a power play goal of their own midway through the second period, then got the back breaker just 57-seconds into period three.
Down by only two goals entering the third, O'Dette felt his team had a chance to get back in the game. "Second period, I thought we had a good period there. I think we gained some momentum. We were confident we could come back but we gave up that goal in the first minute."
The Cougars would tack on a fifth goal midway through the final frame. The T-Birds got a Sam Charko goal late to close out the scoring with Kaleb Hartmann and goaltender Grayson Malinoski assisting.
Disappointed with loss, O'Dette still felt the T-Birds did some good things. "Taking away the positive, that's one of the best teams in the country and I thought we played them pretty tight. There are things to clean up, but effort wise, work ethic, that stuff was there."
The Thunderbirds return home next Tuesday when they welcome the Tri-City Americans to town for a 7:05 p.m. game.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Matej Pekar, whom the T-Birds drafted in the first round of this past summer's CHL Import Draft, made his Seattle debut against Prince George.
Goalie Scott Ratzlaff was returned to Seattle by the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and could be ready to start Saturday in Spokane.
Antonio Martorana continues to be out of the lineup with a lower body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2024
- T-Birds Can't Claw Past Cougars - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rebels Top Hitmen, 5-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Give up Late Goal, Fall in Shootout - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pyne Shuts Door in 3-2 Shootout Win - Regina Pats
- Broncos Back to .500 in Comeback Win Over Wheat Kings - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Trade Boehm to Victoria - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Royals Acquire Brayden Boehm from Medicine Hat Tigers - Victoria Royals
- Game Preivew: Prince George Cougars at Portland Winterhawks - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Acquire Meneghin from Lethbridge in Exchange for Smith - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hurricanes Acquire Shane Smith from Tigers for Harrison Meneghin - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Game Day Preview: Game 5 vs Moose Jaw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Seek Fourth-Straight Win Saturday vs Seattle - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Head into Medicine Hat on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Oil Kings Make First Foray into Saskatchewan to Visit Pats - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Look for Third Straight Win in Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
- Preview: Americans vs Rockets - October 5 - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: October 5 vs. Prince George - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Soar to 5-2 Win over Thunderbirds in Seattle - Prince George Cougars
- Five Winterhawks Post Multi-Point Nights as Hawks Down Royals, 5-3 - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Fall 5-3 To Chiefs In Spokane - Kelowna Rockets
- Blades Handed First Loss of the Season by the Broncos - Saskatoon Blades
- Five Winterhawks Post Multi-Point Nights as Hawks Down Royals, 5-3 - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Fall 6-3 in Red Deer - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Storm Back from 4-1 Deficit to Top Blazers 8-6 - Vancouver Giants
- Heslop's OT Winner Lifts Tips Over Raiders in Roadie Opener - Everett Silvertips
- Gould's Five Point Hands Blades First Loss in 6-3 Bronco Victory - Swift Current Broncos
- Chiefs Start Hot, Hold on for 5-3 Victory for Third Straight Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Open Road Trip with One-Goal Loss in Lethbridge - Moose Jaw Warriors
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