WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Push Past Portland

Published on October 28, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Portland, OR - The Seattle Thunderbirds scored three goals over a six-minute span of the first period, building an early lead, and were never headed as they posted a 6-4 win Wednesday down in Portland.  It was the T-Birds fourth win in five tries on the road this season.  Seattle's current five-game road trek continues in Spokane with game three Friday night against the Spokane Chiefs.

With the victory the Thunderbirds stretched their overall winning streak to three games.  It was also the third straight game the T-Birds scored at least five goals.  Head Coach Matt O'Dette likes that the offensive production is improving.  He would prefer his team not let Portland stick around once Seattle had the early three-goal lead.

"We need to learn how to play with the lead a little better. I don't know if we changed our game, but it turned into a track meet type, high event game."  He said that played into the Winterhawks strength. "it suits them a little bit more.  I would have liked a more under control game."

Seattle was outshot in the game, 38-31 but O'Dette called his team opportunistic.  "It turned into an up and down, odd man rush game, with breakaways here and there, things like that.  I would have preferred we avoid that, but it was nice we cashed in on some of those."

Six different players scored goals for the Thunderbirds, highlighted by 16-year-old rookie defenseman Sawyer Mynio's first in the Western Hockey League. It was Mynio's goal that started the T-Birds first period offensive outburst.  He said the goal was a result of an offensive zone faceoff win by Henrik Rybinski. "Good win by Rybby off the faceoff.  I kind of just faked off the defender and (feigned) a pass to Bausy (Ty Bauer) and I walked in and roofed it top left".

After the Mynio goal at 10:02, Matt Rempe struck at 11:39 with an assist to Nico Myatovic.  Jeremy Hanzel then stretched the Seattle lead to three with his first of the season at 15:55, on assists from Eric Van Impe and Alessandro Segafredo.  Portland's Tyson Kozak cut into the Seattle lead with two and a half minutes left in the first period, giving Seattle a 3-1 edge after twenty minutes.

The Winterhawks changed goalies at the start of the second period, replacing starter Dante Gianuzzi with Lachlan Gordon.  The change in net didn't slow down Seattle's attack.  The Thunderbirds reclaimed the three-goal cushion six minutes into the period when Gabe Ludwig pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone. He crossed over the Portland blue line and fed the puck to Reid Schaefer, who scored on the backhand.

The goal continued Schaefer's hot start to the season. "I feel, for the most part, I have a little groove going, and I've gotta stick with it day-by-day, and just keep honing my skills at practice so I can do it in a game."

Portland got back within two when Cross Hanas scored at 12:41, but the T-birds responded three minutes later when a Lucas Ciona pass sprung Jordan Gustafson on a breakaway. Gustafson beat Gordon five-hole.  Just before the period ended though, Gabe Klassen got the Winterhawks back to within 5-3.

In the third period, the Thunderbirds maintained their two-goal advantage thanks to their penalty kill as they thwarted a 5-on-3 Portland power play opportunity.  Not long after the kill, Conner Roulette finished a 2-on-1 rush with Gustafson, restoring Seattle's three goal lead.  Kozak did score again for the 'Hawks with just under a minute to play to make the final score closer.

The Thunderbirds have three more on the road before they return home.  O'Dette said winning the first two of five straight away games can be a confidence booster. "Momentum is a funny thing. Finding ways to win on the road is not easy to do.  Every night is a different challenge, and this was a big one tonight."

T-BIRD EXTRAS

Jordan Gustafson has four points (3g, 1a) in his last two games.  Through eight games this season he has nine points (4g, 5a).  A season as a rookie he picked up 11 points in 23 games. With his goal Wednesday he has matched his goal total from a season ago.

Matt Rempe has goals in back-to-back games.  He has four goals total on the season, and all have come on the road, including three goals in two games down in Portland.

Portland got four pucks past T-birds goalie Thomas Milic but O'Dette said that was more a result of the play in front of him. "Milly was great all night.  I think we could have given him more support defensively."

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