T-Birds Hold off Tri-City
April 2, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. - Lukas Svejkovsky and Jared Davidson each scored twice as the Seattle Thunderbirds built an early lead, then held on late to defeat the Tri-City Americans, 6-4, Friday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The T-birds have now beaten Tri-City thirteen times this season and 15 in a row dating back to last year. Seattle hits the road Saturday for a 6:05 p.m. game in Portland against the Winterhawks.
Seattle (40-17-4-2) got off to a strong start, scoring four goals in the opening period, building a five-goal lead early in period two, only to see Tri-City storm back to make it a one-goal game with just over a minute remaining. "It was a really good first," said T-birds head coach Matt O'Dette. "That's obviously how you want to start, how we want to play." He said it was the final two periods where his team strayed from the game plan. "We're not too pumped about that but we'll take the two points and move on."
O'Dette said playing and beating the same team so often over the course of the season, can make it mentally challenging to keep up the good habits, especially if you build up a large lead. "It is challenging to keep that edge, where you're on top of your habits, but we definitely have to do a better job of it. You can't let a team come back like that, with that kind of a lead."
The Thunderbirds built their lead with a shorthanded goal from Svejkovsky and three even strength goals, one by Coster Dunn and two from Jared Davidson, all in the first period. Henrik Rybinski then scored just nine seconds into the second period and Seattle was up 5-0.
The Americans comeback started at 1:50 of the second period on a Jordan Gavin goal. They made it 5-2 just past the midway point of the second on a goal from Tyson Greenway.
Three minutes into the third Tri-City turned a Seattle turnover into a 2-on-1 rush and Ethan Ernst scored to make it a two-goal game.
Seattle had a chance to grow their lead back but could not convert on a lengthy power play. O'Dette says they needed to create more scoring opportunities with the man advantage, as the T-birds finished 0-for-4 with the power play. "I thought we could have snapped it around a little quicker. I thought that was another example of us, after taking a five nothing lead, not being sharp and at our best for the rest of the game."
With a player in the penalty box for both teams, Tri-City pulled their goalie for the extra skater and when Marc Lajoie scored at 18:41, it was a 5-4 game.
The Thunderbirds were able to fend off the Americans final push as Svejkovsky potted his second of the game into the empty net with just two seconds left.
O'Dette was certainly not pleased with the game overall but is looking forward to a new challenge. "We're definitely not patting ourselves on the back. It left a bad taste in our mouths, the way that one finished. We need to use that as motivation to play a better game tomorrow, because obviously we'll need to."
After finishing off the weekend schedule Saturday in Portland, the Thunderbirds are off until they host a pair of games next weekend. Next Saturday the T-birds welcome the Spokane Chiefs to the accesso ShoWare center for a 7:05 p.m. game. Then, on Sunday, the Everett Silvertips will be in Kent for a 5:05 p.m. clash.
T-BIRD EXTRAS
The T-birds reached the 40 win mark for the first time since their championship season of 2016-17 when they posted 46 wins.
Davidson has scored six goals in the four games he's played since coming back from an upper body injury. Svejkovsky has 11-points (7g, 4a) in his last four games.
Nico Myatovic assisted on the Svejkovsky shorthanded goal at 6:16 of the first period and created a few other scoring chances for himself. O'Dette says Myatovic could have more goals on the season if he wasn't playing most of the season with an injury. "Some of his shooting opportunities are affected by the injury. He's still getting some pretty good shots off. He's been a nice, mature, responsible hockey player for us."
Once again Seattle played with seven regulars out of the lineup. Sam Knazko, who was kneed in last Saturday's home game, was out with a lower body injury and listed as day-to-day. Seattle also played without Ryan Gottfried, Jordan Gustafson, Lucas Ciona, Gabe Ludwig, Sawyer Mynio and Mekai Sanders. All are listed as day-to-day, except Sanders, who is out for the season.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2022
- Raiders Blast Pats - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Edge Americans 2-1 in Kennewick - Everett Silvertips
- Oil Kings Edged by Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Wiesblatt's Season Cut Short Due to Injury - Prince Albert Raiders
- Americans Faceoff against Silvertips at Toyota Center - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: April 2 vs Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Continue Weekend Road Trip in Vancouver - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Overcome Third Period Rally, Take 5-4 OT Win - Everett Silvertips
- Much Needed Two Points on the Line in Contest Versus Raiders - Regina Pats
- Comeback Effort Falls Short as Americans Lose 6-4 to Seattle - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Hold off Tri-City - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Warriors Upended by Blades in Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Chiefs Come up with Big 6-5 Win over Kamloops Blazers - Spokane Chiefs
- Rockets Dominate Cougars, 9-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Defence Costs Cougars in Lopsided Loss - Prince George Cougars
- Hawks Erase Two-Goal Third-Period Deficit to Knock off Silvertips - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders Doubled Up By Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hauser, ICE Shutout Regina 7-00 - Winnipeg Ice
- ICE Shut out Pats - Regina Pats
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