WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Gain Point In Standings

Published on January 25, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


VANCOUVER, January 24, 2003 — The Seattle Thunderbirds got another point in their climb into playoff position in the U.S. division with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Giants Saturday night in front of 8,218 at the Pacific Coliseum.

This was the fourth overtime game between the Thunderbirds and Giants this year. Seattle (14-23-8-3) is 2-2-1-0 against the Giants this season

Seattle, with 39 points, is 12 points behind both the Portland Winter Hawks (23-21-4-2) and Spokane Chiefs (21-20-3-6) in the U.S. division. Seattle can make that ground up though as they have five games remaining against the Winter Hawks and four games remaining against the Chiefs. Both the Chiefs and Winter Hawks lost on Saturday night.

Seattle took an early 1-0 lead when Tyler Metcalfe redirected a Scott Jackson point shot past Vancouver goalie Aaron Sorochan at 2:11 of the first period. Chris Durand had second assist on Metcalfe's 16th goal of the year.

Seattle took a 2-0 lead at 15:40 of the first period when Yashar Farmanara slammed home a loose puck in the crease. Adam Huxley gained the offensive zone and put a shot on goal. Cole Simpson crashed the net disrupting Sorochan, causing him to loose control of the puck. Farmanara was trailing the play and was able put home the rebound for his fifth of the year. Kyle Fecho had the second assist.

Farmanara, from West Vancouver, was playing in front of many family and friends who made the short trip to the Pacific Coliseum.

Vancouver (20-18-8-5) cut the lead to one when Mitch Bartley scored a power-play goal at 7:52 of the second period. Adam Courchaine put a shot on goal and Bartley was able to put the rebound past Seattle goalie Bryan Bridges for his 23rd of the year.

The Giants tied the game 2-2 at 16:32 of the third when Bartley walked in alone and beat Bridges underneath the crossbar for his second of the night. Courchaine and Darren Lynch had the assists on the game-tying goal.

Dustin Johner was awarded a penalty shot 22 seconds into overtime when he was taken down on a breakaway. Johner attempted to go high on the glove side with his shot but Sorochan was able to glove it and keep the Giants from losing.

Joe Logan scored the overtime winner for the Giants at 3:50 of overtime. Logan put a shot on goal from the right face-off circle that hit Bridges' shoulder and trickled into the net. It was Logan's first goal of the year. Courchaine had the assist, his third on the night.

Bridges had 25 saves on 28 shots. His record falls to 9-14-2 with the loss. Sorochan had 25 saves on 27 shots and his record improves to 11-9-7.

In the second game of the home-and-home series Seattle takes on the Giants Sunday night at KeyArena at 5 p.m.

Check out the Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2004


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