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WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Take 2-1 Series Lead with 5-2 Victory

April 1, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENT, March 31, 2015 - The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Portland Winterhawks 5-2 Tuesday night in Game 3 of their first round playoff series at the ShoWare Center. The win gives Seattle a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 4 scheduled for this Thursday at the ShoWare Center at 7:05 pm.

The T-Birds have a special ticket offer for Game 4 of the series on Thursday. Fans can get 10 tickets for Game 4 for $200. Anyone that purchases this playoff ticket package will also receive two additional playoff tickets to Game 4, a T-Birds t-shirt of their choice from the Hockey Store in ShoWare Center and $10 in Chuck-a-Pucks. Fans can purchase this package on the T-Birds website.

Taran Kozun made 35 saves to help the T-Birds along to victory, giving up just two goals in the process. Adin Hill took the loss for Portland after stopping 24 of 28 shots he faced in the game.

Scott Eansor scored on the second shot of the game for the T-Birds to give Seattle an early lead. Eansor cut inside around a Portland defenseman to give himself a path to the net. The shot from Eansor beat Hill glove-side as it flew along inches off the ice to make it 1-0. Donovan Neuls and Jerret Smith assisted on the goal at 3:28.

Roberts Lipsbergs scored his first goal of the playoffs at 8:48 to widen the gap to two goals in Seattle's favor. Lipsbergs was cutting hard to the front of the net and was in the right place at the right time when Ryan Gropp got the puck in front. Lipsbergs was able to tip it past Hill's outstretched leg for the goal. Mathew Barzal had the secondary assist.

After Seattle held Portland without a shot during a Winterhawk power play, Gropp came close to scoring a goal of his own. Barzal brought the puck into the zone and forced the only Portland defender to split the difference between Barzal and Gropp. Gropp received the pass and let loose with a one-timer that beat Hill but went inches wide of the goal to the end boards.

Jared Hauf sent the puck off the post at the 19-minute mark. Gropp started a break with Lipsbergs, eventually passing off to Lipsbergs as they entered the zone and the pressure collapsed on Gropp. Hauf was trailing the two forwards and took the puck from Lipsbergs before skating as deep into the slot as he could. His low shot squeaked past Hill's fully-extended leg but hit square on the post and bounced back under Hill's body.

Shots were 9-7 Seattle in the first.

The Winterhawks cut the lead to one goal when Dominic Turgeon scored at 1:37. The Seattle defense fought the puck away from Evan Weinger in front of the net to stop the initial scoring chance. That loose puck bounced up the slot to Turgeon, however, who was able to shoot quickly before Kozun could reposition and get an eye on it. The goal was Turgeon's second of the series.

A slashing call gave the T-Birds their first power play of the game, which paid off nicely with another goal. Gropp flipped a backhand pass to Ethan Bear, who had cut down to the high slot. Bear's shot was tipped by Alexander True past Hill for the power-play goal that made it 3-1 Seattle.

Neuls was turned aside at the top of the crease by Hill minutes later to keep the lead where it was. Neuls had crashed to the net as the teams fought for the puck along the end boards. A Seattle player gained control long enough to throw the puck in front of the net, where Neuls was stopped by Hill's pads.

Kozun kicked away a shot from Oliver Bjorkstrand in a spectacular display of goaltending at 15:25. Bjorkstrand deked his way to the side of the net around several Seattle defenders, all while keeping a screen in the way of Kozun's vision. Kozun was able to get a glimpse at Bjorkstrand's path well enough to anticipate the move and was waiting for the Winterhawk at the edge of the crease to make the save.

Shots were 14-6 Portland in the second period.

Smith made it 4-1 for Seattle at 4:06. Smith's shot came from the middle of the blue line and wound around several bodies before it ended up in the net. Hill was unable to get a good look at the puck until it was too late. Shea Theodore and Neuls assisted on Smith's first goal of the playoffs.

Nic Petan closed the gap with a goal at 16:15, making it a two-goal game with 3:45 left. Off an offensive zone faceoff, Petan fired away high in the faceoff circle. Kozun couldn't get a piece of the puck as it flew over his stick-side.

Portland pulled their goalie with 1:45 left in the game to try and make up the deficit. Smith scored into the empty net at 18:34 to seal the victory with his second goal of the night, making it 5-2. Smith stole the puck near the blue line and calmly tossed it into the net before any defender could get in the way.

Portland led in shots 16-14 in the third period.

Seattle vs. Portland First Round Series

Game 1 - Seattle 4, at Portland 3

Game 2 - At Portland 3, Seattle 0

Game 3 - At Seattle 5, Portland 2

Game 4 - Portland @ Seattle, April 2 7:05 pm

Game 5 - Seattle @ Portland, April 4 6:00 pm (VMC)

Game 6 - Portland @ Seattle, April 7 7:05 pm*

Game 7 - Seattle @ Portland, April 8 7:00 pm* (VMC)

*If necessary

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