T-Birds Fall in Shootout to Portland
December 11, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. -The Seattle Thunderbirds raced back from a two-goal deficit with a three goal third period but eventually fell to the Portland Winterhawks, 4-3, in a shootout Saturday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Thunderbirds are now 19-4-1-1. Seattle's busy weekend continues on Sunday. They return home to play their third game in three days, hosting the Vancouver Giants at the accesso ShoWare Center at 5:05 p.m.
Seattle actually took a 3-2 lead into the final minute of play but a miscue behind the Thunderbirds goal allowed the Winterhawks to tie it with the extra skater on the ice with just 30-seconds remaining.
Head coach Matt O'Dette said it was an unfortunate turn of events but said he was still proud of the effort his team put forth to get back into the game. "You need sixty minutes to win, especially against a good team, but we saw what we're capable of the final forty minutes. I really liked the resiliency and the effort to come back in the game."
Seattle fell behind, 2-0, after the first period. Portland got an unassisted breakaway goal from Marcus Nguyen at 8:26. Then, 49-seconds later, Dawson Pasternak popped home a rebound.
On his team's start that saw them fall behind two goals, O'Dette said, "We didn't get on our path to victory soon enough. We were kind of testing the waters a little bit in the first period and they thrive off turnovers and there were a couple of turnovers there. They want to be in transition, and we allowed them to do that in the first period."
There was no scoring in the second period, though Seattle outshot Portland 16-7. That helped turn the tide and Seattle dominated the third period. Their first goal came at 7:24 from Bryce Pickford with Jared Davidson and Gracyn Sawchyn assisting. Less than two minute later Nico Myatovic tied the game at 2-2. The lone assist went to Mekai Sanders. The Thunderbirds grabbed the lead on Jared Davidson's goal at 16:17 as Seattle took advantage of a Portland turnover. Sawchyn had his second assist of the game on the go-ahead goal. Kyle Crnkovic had the second helper.
Portland forced the overtime on a Lucas Cagnoni goal at 19:30. After a scoreless five minutes of overtime, Nguyen was the only one of six shooters to score in the shootout, providing the Winterhawks with the win.
"It was a learning experience," said O'Dette of the late error that allowed Portland to tie it. "We have to rack up these learning experiences throughout the year and grow from them."
Sunday's home game begins a three-game homestand for Seattle, their last three home games before the Christmas break. The Thunderbirds host the Prince George Cougars Tuesday and welcome the Everett Silvertips to the accesso ShoWare Center Friday. Game time both nights is 7:05 p.m.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
The Thunderbirds participated in three Teddy Bear Toss games this month, their own last weekend, Everett's Friday night and versus Portland Saturday. They went 2-0-0-1.
Kyle Crnkovic stretched his point streak to nine games with an assist on Davidson's third period goal. The goal was Davidson's 75th as a Thunderbird. Gracyn Sawchyn has four assists over his last two 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
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
