T-Birds Clipped by Kelowna
February 28, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. - The Seattle Thunderbirds couldn't hold three different leads and dropped a, 4-3, decision to the Kelowna Rockets Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The loss was Seattle's third in a row, matching a season high. These same two teams will go at again Tuesday in Kent at 7:05 p.m.
"Not good enough," was head coach Matt O'Dette's assessment of his team's effort. "To the outsider you might think that was a pretty good game, lots of shots lots of chances, but it's not to our standard." The T-birds outshot the Rockets on the night, 40-26, but O'Dette said there were too many mistakes that led to high level scoring chances for Kelowna. "We're outchancing teams, but we're giving up some big ones, and they're cashing in."
Seattle (30-14-4-1) opened the scoring when Jared Davidson scored his 25th of the season at 4:38 of the first period, assisted by Sam Knazko and goalie Scott Ratzlaff. Kelowna responded with a power play goal from Andrew Cristall at 10:06 and tied the game at 1-1.
The T-birds had a quick answer when they converted a power play chance of their own just 56-seconds later. The goal, from Jordan Gustafson, was his 20th of the season, assisted by Jeremy Hanzel and Lucas Ciona. But the Rockets took advantage of another T-birds penalty and Colton Dach scored to even things up at 2-2 at 13:42 of the opening period.
The Thunderbirds grabbed their third and final lead of the game 42-seconds into the second period when Kevin Korchinski fed a cross slot pass to Reid Schaefer. Schaefer one timed in his 25th goal and Seattle was back up, 3-2. Davidson earned the second assist. Again, Kelowna had a response. Cristall brought the game back to even with his second of the night, tipping in a point shot at 10:55.
The game winning goal for the Rockets came at 12:05 of the third period as Rilen Kovacevic picked up a loose puck at the Seattle blue line and fired home his third goal of the season. The T-birds got a late power play chance with four and a half minutes remaining but were denied. "We had a power play chance at a key moment," said O'Dette. "We melted down a little bit. A chance to tie the game and we couldn't execute."
This is just the second time the T-birds have lost three straight games in regulation, and the first time since Mid-November. O'Dette believes his team will grow from it. "It all feels pretty heavy because we haven't gone through a lot of these stretches. But you can't get through a long season like this without dealing with adversity." He says it is something they have to overcome. "We're just in a little bit of a funk and have to dig our way out of it."
After Tuesday's rematch against the Rockets, the T-birds hit the road for two games. They will be in Kennewick to play the Tri-City Americans Friday and then head north to Everett Saturday. Seattle's next home game is next Sunday, March 6th as they host Tri-City at 5:05 p.m.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
T-birds center Henrik Rybinski missed Sunday's game. He was hurt late in the third period of Saturday's game at Climate Pledge Arena against the Everett Silvertips.
Chase Lacombe was also out of the lineup against Kelowna. He was injured early in the third period versus Everett when he was clipped by a high stick.
Both Matt Rempe and Sam Knazko returned to the lineup. Rempe was back after serving a two-game suspension. Knazko has been away since late January, winning a bronze medal with Team Slovakia at the recently concluded Winter Olympics in Beijing.
With a two-point game (1g, 1a) Davidson is one point shy of 100 for his WHL career.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2022
- Winterhawks Weekly: Portland Is Playoff Bound - Portland Winterhawks
- Preview: Rockets At Thunderbirds - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Goaltender Tyler Palmer Named WHL Goalie of the Week - Victoria Royals
- Oil Kings Forward Souch Named WHL Player of the Week - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Royals Netminder Palmer Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Oil Kings Forward Souch Named WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- ICE Conclude Weekend with Shootout Win over Swift Current - Winnipeg Ice
- T-Birds Clipped by Kelowna - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Rebound to Top Seattle - Kelowna Rockets
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