T-Birds Get the Road Split
May 13, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
WINNIPEG, MB. - Two goals eight seconds apart in the third period propelled the Seattle Thunderbirds past the Winnipeg ICE, 4-2, Saturday at the Canada Life Centre in the second game of the Western Hockey Championship Series. The win evens the series at a game apiece. Game three of the best of seven series is Tuesday at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Thunderbirds head coach Matt O'Dette thought his team stepped up their game after a loss in the series opener. "A much better effort tonight," he said. "More in tune with the way we need to play."
Brad Lambert led the Seattle attack with two goals, his fourth and fifth of the playoffs. Lambert, a first-round draft pick last summer of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets, spent the first half of the season playing in Winnipeg with the Jets American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. He said that was the furthest thing from his mind.
"Not at all," he remarked about whether he was thinking about being back in his old stomping grounds. "First of all, I'm on the other bench. I'm just trying to help my team win. We're in the WHL final, so that's enough motivation for me. "
For the second night Seattle fell behind. Winnipeg's Zach Benson opened the scoring at 4:11 of the first period. The Thunderbirds then were assessed a double minor high sticking penalty, giving the ICE a four-minute power play and a chance to add to their lead.
Seattle killed it off, led by goaltender Thomas Milic. "We look at is an opportunity," he remarked. "If we do kill it off, the full four minutes, it's a lot of momentum in our favor early in the game and I think we did just that."
The Thunderbirds killed off five Winnipeg power plays in total. Sam Popowich is a key member of the T-Birds penalty killing units. He said the team takes pride in denying opponents on the power play. "We know they have a good power play so when we take penalties like that, and it happens through the game, you just have to be ready to do what we have to do out there."
Seattle tied the game early in the second period on a Jeremy Hanzel blast. "We've seen that now a few times in the playoffs," commented O'Dette on the Hanzel one-timer. "A big goal at the time to get us started. He's been working hard on that shot."
The Thunderbirds grabbed the lead with Lambert's first of the game at 5:02 of the third. Eight seconds later Reid Schaefer made it 3-1 off a Dylan Guenther assist. After Benson pulled one back for the ICE, Lambert scored again off another Guenther helper with just under three minutes remaining.
"I thought the Lambert line was really good," said O'Dette of Lambert, Guenther and Schaefer. "Dangerous and contributing to four goals. I thought their two-hundred-foot game was really good. That's what you need this time of year."
In addition to Game Three on Tuesday, Seattle will host Games Four and Five as well, next Wednesday and Friday.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
In 16 playoff games this spring Seattle has outscored the opposition 37-11 in the third period or later.
Reid Schaefer now has goals in five straight playoff games.
The T-Birds improved their postseason road record to 7-2. It's the second year they've won at least seven road playoff games. Last spring Seattle was 8-6 on the road in the postseason.
Western Hockey League Stories from May 13, 2023
- T-Birds Get the Road Split - Seattle Thunderbirds
- WHL Championship Series Tied 1-1 - Winnipeg Ice
- Thunderbirds Claim Game 2 of 2023 WHL Championship Series Presented by Nutrien - WHL
- Game #2 - ICE vs Seattle - Winnipeg Ice
- 'I Play Big in Big Games': Get to Know Morgan Stickney - Portland Winterhawks
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.
