T-Birds Win Streak at 10 with Win over Winterhawks
Published on March 13, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
PORTLAND - The line of Nolan Volcan, Scott Eansor and Donovan Neuls combined for six points Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-2 win over the Portland Winterhawks.
The win gives the T-Birds a 10-game winning streak and they have won 14 of their last 15 games.
The T-Birds are 42-23-3-0 and in first place in the US Division, six points ahead of the Everett Silvertips, who lost 4-1 to the Tri-City Americans Saturday.
The T-Birds magic number to clinch the US Division title is two points. Everett (37-23-4-3) plays the Winterhawks Sunday in Portland. If the Winterhawks defeat the Silvertips in regulation the T-Birds will win the US Division. If the Silvertips lose in overtime or a shootout the T-Birds will not win the US Division.
The T-Birds play the Spokane Chiefs Tuesday at ShoWare Center at 7:05pm. If the Silvertips defeat the Winterhawks on Sunday the T-Birds can win the US Division with a win over Spokane on Tuesday.
The T-Birds have four games remaining in the regular season and have clinched a playoff spot and no worse than second place in the US Division.
They will open the playoffs at ShoWare Center on Friday, March 25, at ShoWare Center at 7:35pm against an opponent to be determined. Game 2 of the best-of-seven first round series will be Saturday, March 26, at 7:05pm at ShoWare Center.
Single game playoff tickets will go on sale on Monday, March 14, at noon on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. Fans can get playoff tickets before they go on sale to the general public on Monday by purchasing a 10-ticket group package to either Game 1 or Game 2 for $180. This ticket special includes two FREE tickets and $10 in Chuck-A-Puck vouchers.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead 1:01 into the game. Eansor brought puck out from behind the Portland net. Eansor passed the puck to Volcan in the low slot. Volcan put a backhand shot over Portland goalie Adin Hill's glove for his 16th goal of the season. Neuls had the second assist.
Portland (34-30-4-0) tied the game 1-1 at 8:33 of the first on a power-play goal by Dominic Turgeon. Jack Dougherty and Alex Schoenborn had the assists.
The T-Birds killed off a 50 second Portland 5-on-3 man advantage with just over four minutes left in the first period.
Seattle outshot Portland 15-12 in the first period.
The T-Birds went in front 2-1 at 6:54 of the second period. Brandon Schuldhaus passed the puck from the right boards to Ethan Bear at center ice inside the blue line. Bear passed the puck to Ryan Gropp in the right circle. Gropp whipped a puck at the goal with Matthew Wedman and Luke Osterman screening Hill. Gropp's shot beat Hill low on the stick side for his team leading 34th goal of the season.
The Winterhawks tied the game 2-2 at 13:36 of the second. Rodrigo Abols tipped a Keoni Texeira point shot past Seattle goalie Landon Bow. Blake Heinrich had the second assist.
The line of Neuls, Eansor and Volcan struck with 34 seconds left in the second to put the T-Birds up 3-2. Eansor got the puck into the Portland zone and then passed it down the right boards to Volcan. Volcan held the puck then fed Neuls in the right circle. Neuls skated towards Hill then took a hard wrist shot that beat the goalie low.
The T-Birds lead 34-22 in shots after two periods by outshooting the Winterhawks 19-10 in the second period.
The Winterhawks pulled Hill for an extra attacker with 1:12 left in the third period to try and tie the game. The T-Birds held off a final push from the Winterhawks with several good saves from Bow.
Seattle outshot Portland 13-9 in the third period and 47-31 in the game.
Seattle goalie Landon Bow stopped 29 of 31 shots and his record is now 23-20-4-0.
Hill made 44 saves on 47 shots and his record is now 32-27-3-0.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2015-16 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm Saturday game days at 10 am and Sunday game days at noon.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 13, 2016
- Oil Kings Step up in Critical Win over Lethbridge - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Take Down Kelowna 6-4 in Tri-City - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Fall to Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Hold off Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, March 13 vs Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Sanders, Americans Cruise past Everett 4-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Game 70: March 13 vs. Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Sanders, Americans Shut Down Everett 4-1 - Tri-City Americans
- Kelowna wins 6-1 - Kelowna Rockets
- Blazers Beat Giants 2-1 In Shootout, Win Seventh Straight - Kamloops Blazers
- Rockets Back on Track: Win 5-1 in Spokane - Kelowna Rockets
- Rebels with 6-1 Win over Lethbridge - Red Deer Rebels
- T-Birds Win Streak at 10 with Win over Winterhawks - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Blazers Outlast Giants in Shootout - Vancouver Giants
- Hawks Fall 3-2 to Seattle Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Name 2015-16 Team Award Winners Prior to 6-1 Loss - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Roll Past Blades - Brandon Wheat Kings
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