WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Roll Past the Royals

Published on February 22, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


VICTORIA, B.C. - Nico Myatovic scored three goals and the Seattle Thunderbirds earned their seventh shutout of the season, blanking the Victoria Royals, 8-0, Tuesday at Save on Foods Memorial Centre. The result leaves the Thunderbirds with a 43-9-1-1 record. The Thunderbirds return back home to the accesso ShoWare Center Friday night to host the Tri-City Americans. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Seattle swept three games from the Royals over the last four days, pitching two shutouts and outscoring them 23-1 in the process. Thunderbirds head coach Matt said the Thunderbirds domination of Victoria made it hard to stay focused as the game went along. "These were really hard games to play in because of just that. Especially when we get up big early in the game. But I thought for the most part we took care of business and did what we needed to do."

The hat trick was the first for Myatovic with the Thunderbirds. It included a power play goal. When Seattle lost Kyle Crnkovic to a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct in the first period, it gave Myatovic the opportunity to skate on the second power play unit. "It was nice to get that opportunity," he said. "It was just that next man up mentality. I was able to step in that role and get one."

As they did the night before, the Thunderbirds scored three times in the first period. Brad Lambert struck first at 8:02. Then Nolan Allan and Mekai Sanders scored just six seconds apart with just under four minutes remaining in the opening frame.

Myatovic's power play goal made it 4-0 early in period two. Lambert's second of the game at 5:57 gave Seattle a five-goal lead after two. Reid Schaefer ended a 13-game goal drought when he found the back of the net at 14:59 of the third. Officials initially called it no goal, but after an official review Schaefer had his 20th of the season.

"I though it went in right away," said Schaefer. "I put my hands up and they're waving no goal. But obviously a sigh of relief and a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders. It was nice to get that one."

Myatovic then scored twice more to finish off the Thunderbirds offensive onslaught. Schaefer assisted on the final goal. Allan ended the night with a goal and three assists. O'Dette said it was another example of Seattle's depth shining through.

"It was nice to see," he commented. "Lots of different guys chipped in offensively. We're a team that has a lot of depth. It's going to be different guys stepping up. We're going to need those contributions."

Scott Ratzlaff, with 21 saves, earned his league leading fifth shutout of the season. "It was nice the D was playing really well tonight. There weren't too many grade A opportunities," he said. "Just a matter of staying focused in a game with not a lot of shots."

In addition to Friday's game against Tri-City, Seattle will play at home Saturday versus the Portland Winterhawks at 6:05 p.m.

T-BIRDS EXTRAS

Both Brad Lambert, with two goals, and Kevin Korchinski, with a pair of assists, stretched their point streaks to eight games.

In sweeping the four game season series from Victoria, Seattle outscored the Royals 26-1. Seattle's all-time record at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre is now 13-6-1-2.

Colton Dach, who played his first two games with Seattle this past weekend after missing two months with an upper body injury, was given a maintenance day and did not play Tuesday.

Check out the Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2023


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