T-Birds Fall Short In Game Two
Published on March 23, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Seattle, March 22, 2008 The Seattle Thunderbirds fell to the Kelowna Rockets 3-1 in front of 3,145 fans at KeyArena on Saturday.
The loss drops Seattle to 0-2 in the first round of the best-of-seven Western Conference playoffs.
The series now shifts to Kelowna for game 3 on Monday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Seattle got on the board at 10:03 of the first period on a power-play goal by Prab Rai.
The goal came as the result of a pinpoint pass from Ian McKenzie, who centered the puck from behind the net to Rai as he skated through the slot. Rai finished with a one-time shot past Kelowna goaltender Kristofer Westblom for a 1-0 T- Bird lead. Jim O'Brien also chipped in with an assist.
At the end of the first period Seattle (0-2) and Kelowna both had five shots on goal.
Tyler Myers scored a power-play goal at 5:04 of the second period to tie the game 1-1. Kyle St. Denis and Cody Almond had the assists.
Kelowna (2-0) outshot Seattle 10-9 in the second, and led in total shots 15-14 through two periods.
Kelowna took a 2-1 lead at the :51 mark of the third period on a Colin Long tally. Brady Leavold and Tyson Barrie provided the assists.
Kelowna scored a power-play goal at 11:10 of the third, increasing their lead to 3-1. Cody Almond recorded the goal, St. Denis and Myers had the assists.
Kelowna outshot Seattle 11-10 in the third period and 26-24 in the game.
Westblom stopped 23 of 24 shots on goal for the game. His playoff record is 2-0.
T-Bird goaltender Riku Helenius stopped 23 of 26 shots on the night and saw his playoff record fall to 0- 2.
The remaining schedule for the first round series with Kelowna is as follows:
First Round Schedule
Game 1 - Kelowna 3, at Seattle 2
Game 2 - Kelowna 3, at Seattle 2
Game 3 - Monday, March 24 at Kelowna at Prospera Place at 7 p.m.
Game 4 - Tuesday, March 25 at Kelowna at Prospera Place at 7 p.m.
Game 5 - Thursday, March 27 vs. Kelowna at KeyArena at 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 - Saturday, March 29 at Kelowna at Prospera Place at 7 p.m.*
Game 7 - Tuesday, April 1 vs. Kelowna at KeyArena at 7:05 p.m.*
*If necessary
Single game playoff tickets are currently on sale at all TicketMaster outlets, online at www.seattlethunderbirds.com, at the KeyArena Box Office and at The Hockey Store located at 14326 124th Ave NE in Kirkland. Playoff tickets may also be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 206-628-0888 or the T-Birds at 206-448-PUCK (7825). Single game playoff tickets are $22, $18 and $14
Western Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2008
- Kelowna Rockets Release Final Playoff Tickets - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Weekly Recap - Vancouver Giants
- Game Five Tickets On Sale Monday Morning - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes Take 2-0 Series Lead - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Chiefs dominate Everett for 2-0 series lead - Spokane Chiefs
- T-Birds Fall Short In Game Two - Seattle Thunderbirds
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