T-Birds Win 5-1
Published on January 29, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
EVERETT, WASH., JANUARY 28, 2004 â The Seattle Thunderbirds wasted little effort with their shots tonight against the Everett Silvertips in the Everett Event Center. Scoring on either their first or second shot of each period, five different T-Birds scored goals in a 5-1 beating of the Silvertips.
"I know it is a cliché," said Seattle's Head Coach Dean Chynoweth. "But, it's true. We really do have to look at one game at a time. You have to believe and our guys doâit isn't hopeless, especially with the number of division games we have ahead of us."
Seattle (improving to 15-24-8-3) did that tonight in the Western Hockey League game in outstanding fashion. With a focused defense, the T-Birds' were able to shoot the puck with near-surgical precision. At one point in the game, the Thunderbirds had scored four goals on eight shots.
The first shot of the game came as Team Captain Dustin Johner was pulled of the puck and lost control. Chris Durand was in the area and picked up the puck and snapped a quick wrist shot that beat the WHL's second-ranked goalie (Everett's Jeff Harvey) between the pads in the five hole. Seattle took the early lead at 1:17 on Durand's 13th overall goal this yearâit was his fifth goal and his sixth total point in the series. Durand, who came into the game as the T-Birds' leading scorer in the six games played in the 10-game series, had only played in five of those gamesâhe missed the game on Sunday, December 28, while he was away playing with his Under 17 team. That game ended in a 1-1 overtime tie.
Seattle's second goal came in the 19th minute; it was partially set up by Everett's Mitch Wilsonâhe was called for high sticking at 15:59. Though his penalty ended and he was back on the ice at 17:59, he was unable to catch up to the play. A patient T-Bird, Aaron Gagnon brought the puck deep into the Silvertips' offensive zone. He held the puck just long enough as he crossed the zone from right to left; he forced Harvey down to the ice. Gagnon shot the puck back, off of Harvey giving his teammates the rebound opportunity.
T-Birds Ryan Gibbons, Matthew Hansen and Yashar Farmanara were all in position to take swings at the puckâFarmanara was finally successful. He scored his sixth goal of the year at 18:05. It would eventually prove to be the game winner.
The first period ended with Seattle goalie Bryan Bridges making acrobatic moves to keep momentum on the Seattle bench. He was able to make a save and push the Mitch Love shot behind his own net. Seattle would be out shot in the first 7-to-5, but Seattle had the two-goal lead.
The second-period payoff from Bridges' first-period effort was deposited in the Seattle bank only 128 seconds into the period. Again, on the very first shot of the period for either team, Seattle's Nate Thompson buried his 11th goal of the year on the left post. On only the sixth shot of the game for the T-Birds, Thompson increased his team's lead to three goalsâit spelled the end of the night for Harvey who had given up three goals on only five shots. It was an unassisted, short-handed goal for Thompson.
Another deposit in the Seattle bank came only 34 seconds later. On only their second shot of the period, the very first shot that new Everett goalieâMike Wallâwould face, Seattle deposited the puck into Everett's net. Justin Maiser scored his seventh goal of the year at 2:42. The lone assist on the goal would be earned by Gagnon who fought hard to get the puck out of his zoneâafter doing so with his skate, Gagnon made a pass to Maiser who was able to beat Wall on the left post.
Midway through the second, the T-Birds were being out shot 16-8. The different was a .500 shooting percentage as the T-Birds had deposited four of the eight shots into the Everett net.
At 4:59 Everett let the T-Birds know that they were not about to roll over and give up. Attempting to spur his team, Ivan Baranka grabbed Steven Goertzen. He was whistled for a gross misconduct penalty when he pulled Goertzen's hair. The move gave the T-Birds a five-minute power play and added 20 total minutes of penalty time to the Silvertips side of the score sheet; a 10-minute game misconduct, a five-minute major for fighting, and a five-minute match penalty for âattempt to injure.' The T-Birds were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.
Seattle allowed Everett to score in the third. The game's fifth goal was the only goal for Everett; it was scored by Shaun Heshkaâhis second of the year at 5:03. Ryan Blatchford and Zach Hamil were credited with assists.
Cole Simpson got his team back up by four goals at 13:38. His second goal of the year came on an assist by teammate Clayton Barthel. Though it was only the T-Birds' second shot of the third, it was enough to insure the win. It was their second win against the Silvertipsâboth were road games for Seattle.
Bridges continued to shine with impressive saves. He ended the game with 37 saves on 38 shots.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2004
- Americans Weekly Update - Tri-City Americans
- Guard makes CHL history - Kelowna Rockets
- Brandon Wheat Kings Game Notes - Brandon Wheat Kings
- T-Birds Win 5-1 - Seattle Thunderbirds
- T-Birds End Silvertips Winning Streak - Everett Silvertips
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