T-Birds Chop Down Giants
December 11, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. -Spencer Michnik made 22 saves in his first start in goal in the Western Hockey League and the Seattle Thunderbirds knocked off the Vancouver Giants, 5-2, Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center. Jared Davidson scored twice and added an assist as Seattle improved to 20-4-1-1. Seattle stays on home ice for a Tuesday night matchup with the Prince George Cougars. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Michnik, who was recalled by Seattle with Thomas Milic away at Team Canada World Junior Championship selection camp, said he got the butterflies out of the way early. "I felt a little nervous off the start but as the game went on, it went away, less noticing the atmosphere and just playing hockey."
Michnik faced 24 shots and almost half of them, eleven, came in the first period. He said it helped him settle in. "I believe so. It kept me sharp and ready for the next save." Head coach Matt O'Dette liked what he saw from his young netminder. "He got a decent amount of work in the first. He was calm and cool and turned everything aside. He was really solid for us tonight."
After a scoreless opening period, most of the goals came in the second period. Vancouver struck first with a Jaden Lipinski goal at 2:28. Seattle responded by scoring the next four. The first three came over an 80-second span.
Kyle Crnkovic tied the game with a shorthanded marker at 7:41, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush by burying a feed from Lucas Ciona. Then just 41-seconds later, as the penalty expired, Hyde Davidson came out of the box, took a pass from Jared Davidson and scored on a breakaway.
It was his second goal of the season. "It was pretty much instinct taking over. Davy made a great pass to me, and I knew I had to put it in the net somehow."
It took just 39 more seconds for Seattle to strike again when Jordan Gustafson, in behind the Vancouver net, found Ciona out front for the goal at 9:01. The Thunderbirds tacked on one more goal in the period when Jared Davidson scored on the power play at 14:01. O'Dette said it was a slow start but liked his team's second period. "I thought the first was kind of a sleepy period, maybe by both teams, but we got into our groove in the second, playing the way we need to play."
The two teams traded goals in the third with Jared Davidson scoring his second of the night at 13:50. Vancouver's Ty Halaburda scored a half a minute later. Both goals came as the two teams skated four aside.
After the game Tuesday against Prince George, Seattle will play a home-and-home against Everett next weekend to take them to the Christmas break. Friday, they host the Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. Saturday the Thunderbirds travel up to Everett for a 6:05 p.m. start.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Seattle completes the four game regular season series against Vancouver by sweeping all four games.
Kyle Crnkovic, with a goal and an assist, extended his point streak to ten games. Bryce Pickford, with an assist on Seattle's fifth goal, now has a four-game point streak. Jared Davidson has four goals in his last three games.
After a 14-game stretch in which he scored just one goal, Lucas Ciona now has scored twice in his last three games.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2022
- T-Birds Chop Down Giants - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Strong Start Helps Hawks Top Tips 4-2, Stretch Point Streak to Five Games - Portland Winterhawks
- Big First Period Leads Portland Past Tips 4-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Hawks Top Tips 4-2 for Third Straight Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Unable to Break the ICE in 6-1 Loss - Regina Pats
- ICE Dominate Regina - Winnipeg Ice
- Hitmen Knock off Wheat Kings Sunday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hitmen Head Home with a Win over Brandon - Calgary Hitmen
- Mechura Brings the Bears in Teddy Bear Toss Victory - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: December 11 vs. Everett - Portland Winterhawks
- Wheat Kings Look to Sweep Weekend - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pats Take on ICE to End 3-In-3 - Regina Pats
- ICE vs Regina Pats, 5:00 at the ICE Cave Inside Wayne Fleming Arena - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Man-Handle Raiders 9-0 for Sixth Straight Win - Saskatoon Blades
- Boyko Brings the Bears - Edmonton Oil Kings
- G-Men Win Thriller 3-2 in OT - Vancouver Giants
- Cougars Edged 4-3 Against Americans - Prince George Cougars
- Broncos Gain Point But Fall in Shootout to Hurricanes - Swift Current Broncos
- Desjardins Wins 400th Game As Tigers' Head Coach In Win Over Moose Jaw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats Take out Hitmen 5-2 in Their Annual Teddy Toss Game - Regina Pats
- Warriors Stumble in Loss to Tigers - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Nguyen Sends 14,787 Teddy Bears Flying in 4-3 Win - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Fall in Shootout to Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Stopped 3-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Wrap-Up Okanagan Road Trip with Loss to Kamloops - Victoria Royals
- Chiefs Drop Fourth Straight to Brandon Wheat Kings, 2-1 - Spokane Chiefs
- Desjardins Reaches 400 Wins in Tiger Colours - Medicine Hat Tigers
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