WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Will Face Everett in First Round of Playoffs

March 18, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENT - The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Portland Winterhawks 5-1 Saturday night in front of 6,160 in the last regular season game at accesso ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds have a 34-27-8-2 record which locks them into the second wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference. The T-Birds will play the Everett Silvertips in the first round of the playoffs.

The T-Birds will play Game 1 of a first round best-of-seven series on Friday, March 23, at Everett at 7:35pm. Game 2 of this first round series will be Saturday, March 24, at Everett at 7:05pm.

The T-Birds first home playoff game against Everett is Tuesday, March 27, at 7:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center. This game will be a Directors Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday game that will feature two-for-one tickets and beers and $2 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, and $2 soda.

Single game tickets for Game 3 currently on sale. Single game playoff tickets can be purchased on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office. The accesso ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday game days at noon. A full first round schedule will be released once the T-Birds know their opponent.

Game 4 of the first round will be Friday, March 30, at accesso ShoWare Center at 7:35pm.

First Round Schedule

Everett vs. Seattle

Game 1 Seattle @ Everett Friday, March 23 7:35pm

Game 2 Seattle @ Everett Saturday, March 24 7:05pm

Game 3 Everett @ Seattle Tuesday, March 27 7:05pm

Game 4 Everett @ Seattle Friday, March 30 7:35pm

Game 5 Seattle @ Everett Saturday, March 31 7:05pm*

Game 6 Everett @ Seattle Tuesday, April 3 7:05pm*

Game 7 Seattle @ Everett Wednesday, April 4 7:05pm*

*if necessary

The 2017 WHL Champion T-Birds have a Group Ticket Special for Game 4 of the first round of the 2018WHL Playoffs. Fans can purchase 10 tickets for just $220 and get two FREE tickets.

- You will save $179 when you purchase 10 tickets.

- Tickets are regularly $33.25 for the best seats. You will get them for $22 each.

- You will avoid all service charges.

- You will receive two (2) FREE tickets for putting together a group of family and friends.

- You will receive $10 worth of FREE Chuck a Pucks.

- You will receive scoreboard recognition.

- You will have a great night cheering on the defending WHL Champions

This Playoff Group Ticket Special is available by contacting the T-Birds are 253-239-7825 (PUCK).

This Group Ticket Specials is NOT AVAILABLE ON GAME DAY. They are advance purchase only.

The T-Birds finish out the regular season in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans on Sunday at 5:05pm at the Toyota Center.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 3:41 of the first period. Matthew Wedman passed the puck up the right board to Reece Harsch at the right point. Harsch took a slap shot with traffic in front of Portland goalie Cole Kehler. Harsch's shot beat Kehler low on the glove side for his 10th goal of the season. Sami Moilanen had the second assist.

The T-Birds extended the lead to 2-0 at 15:50 of the first on a power-play goal by Austin Strand. Turner Ottenbreit passed the puck to Donovan Neuls along the right boards. Neuls cut to center ice and found Strand in the left circle. Strand one-timed the pass from Neuls and beat Kehler as the goalie slid over to try and make the save.

Portland outshot Seattle 12-9 in the first period.

Seattle took a 3-0 lead at 15:53 of the second period. Wedman took a shot that Kehler stopped. Turner Ottenbreit crashed the net and jammed the rebound past Kehler for his ninth goal of the season. Nolan Volcan had the second assist.

The T-Birds had a 19-18 advantage in shots after two periods by outshooting the Winterhawks 10-6 in the second period.

Portland (44-22-1-4) got on the board at 11:37 of the third period on a power-play goal Henri Jokiharju. Kieffer Bellows and Cody Glass had the assists.

Zack Andrusiak scored a power-play goal at 14:20 of the third to put the T-Birds in front 4-1. Andrusiak beat Kehler with a slap shot from the right circle off an assist from Donovan Neuls. Strand had the second assist.

Neuls scored from behind the Portland net at 16:10 to give the T-Birds a 5-1 lead. Neuls took a pass from Dillon Hamaliuk and then banked the puck off Kehler and into the net for his 22nd goal of the year. Andrusiak had the second assist.

Seattle outshot Portland 30-28 in the game.

Seattle goalie Liam Hughes had 27 saves on 28 shots and his record is now 16-12-5-1.

Kehler made 25 saves on 30 shots and his record is 30-16-1-4.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period - 1, Seattle, Harsch 10 (Wedman, Moilanen), 3:41. 2, Seattle, Strand 25 (Neuls, Ottenbreit), 15:50 (pp). Penalties - Hamaliuk, Sea (holding), :14. Bellows, Por (slashing), 5:14. Strand, Sea (high-sticking), 5:55. Lee, Sea (tripping), 9:35. Strand, Sea (slashing), 9:58. Hughes, Por (slashing), 9:58. Ludvig, Por (slashing), 12:31. Cholowski, Por (holding), 14:58. McKenzie, Por (boarding), 19:02.

Second period - 3, Seattle, Ottenbreit 9 (Wedman, Volcan), 15:53. Penalties - De Jong, Por (slashing), 1:55. Strand, Sea (slashing), 8:35. Williams, Sea (tripping), 11:27. Hughes, Por (tripping), 17:56.

Third period - 4, Portland, Jokiharju 12 (Bellows, Glass), 11:37 (pp). 5, Seattle, Andrusiak 35 (Neuls, Strand), 14:20 (pp). 6, Seattle, Neuls 22 (Hamaliuk, Andrusiak), 16:10. Penalties - Bellows, Por (delay of game), 1:02. Wedman, Sea (roughing), 7:27. Gilliss, Por (roughing), 7:27. Moilanen, Sea (tripping), 11:50. Overhardt, Por (goaltender interference), 12:14. De Jong, Por (interference), 13:36. Overhardt, Por (10-minute misconduct), 13:36. Kolle, Por (roughing), 18:54. Newkirk, Por (10-minute misconduct), 18:54. Hamaliuk, Sea (roughing), 18:54. Lee, Sea ((10-minute misconduct), 18:54.

Shots on goal - Seattle 9-10-11 30, Portland 12-6-10 28. Goalies - Seattle, Hughes 28 shots-27 saves (16-12-5-1); Portland, Kehler 30-25 (30-16-1-4). Power plays - Seattle 2-9; Portland 1-6. A - 6,150. Referees - Jeff Ingram, Fraser Lawrence. Linesmen - Michael Bear, Nathan Van Oosten.

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