Thunderbirds Capture Game Four
Published on May 18, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. -Dylan Guenther's goal at 7:47 of the third period broke a 2-2 tie and sent the Seattle Thunderbirds past the Winnipeg ICE, 4-2, Wednesday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The win puts Seattle up three games to one and leaves them one victory away from winning the WHL Championship Series. Their first chance to win it is Game Five Friday, also at the accesso ShoWare Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
The goal was Guenther's league leading sixteenth of the postseason. Reid Schaefer and Luke Prokop had the assists.
"It was just kind of a fast break out of the D zone," explained Guenther of the game winner. "Reido made a nice play. I cut to the middle; I really didn't see a lot of support. Kopper (Prokop) was there, he made a nice play to Reido, a nice pass to me. There was some traffic in front and around me, so I just decided to get the shot off and it went in. It's a pretty exciting goal."
Seattle continues to win the third period in the playoffs, adding two more in the Game Four win. They've outscored their opponents 38-11 through their first eighteen playoff games. Thunderbirds head coach Matt O'Dette called it their best period of the night.
"It needed to be," he said. "There were some good stretches, but also some bad stretches through the first forty (minutes). They're a good team. They're playing well and they made it hard on us. Sometimes you just have to stick with it, keep your composure and wait for your opportunity to score a big goal."
For the third time in four games, Winnipeg opened the scoring when Carson Latimer struck at 16:25 or the opening period. Seattle responded when Kevin Korchinski fired home his third of the playoffs with just seventeen seconds remaining in the first.
"Sconer (Lucas Ciona) made a good play," said Korchinski of his goal. "Working down low, heads-up play. He found me. There was a great screen in front from Dacher (Colton Dach) I think. He took away the goalie's eyes and I found the back of the net."
The teams traded goals in the second period. The Thunderbirds got their first lead on a Gracyn Sawchyn power play goal at 4:31 with Jeremy Hanzel and Kyle Crnkovic assisting. The ICE tied it four minutes later when Evan Friesen scored.
That brought us to the third period and Guenther's game winner. Nico Myatovic then put the game away with an empty netter with eight seconds left.
"Both teams are going to play extremely hard Friday," remarked O'Dette on Game Five. "We'll have to play extremely well and give our best effort to win that game."
If Game Six is necessary, it would be Sunday in Winnipeg. Should the series go the distance, Game Seven would be next Monday in Winnipeg as well.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
With an assist on the game winning goal, Reid Schaefer extended his point streak to seven games.
Thomas Milic got the win in net with a thirty-one save effort. The win was his fifteenth of the playoffs, one more than he had last spring in the postseason.
With an assist on the empty net goal Jared Davidson now has fifty-two career playoff points with the Thunderbirds. He is three points back of Ethan Bear for second in franchise history.
The is the first time in Thunderbirds history they will have a chance to clinch a league title on home ice. In 2017 when they won the Ed Chynoweth Cup, they won on the road in Regina.
Western Hockey League Stories from May 18, 2023
- Oil Kings Sign Parker Snell to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Oil Kings Sign F Joe Iginla to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Giants Sign 6th Overall Pick Ryan Lin - Vancouver Giants
- SWX to Air Game Five of WHL Championship Between Seattle and Winnipeg Friday - Spokane Chiefs
- Mahura & Stephenson Compete in Eastern & Western Conference Final - Regina Pats
- Konowalchuk Steps Down as Rebels Head Coach - Red Deer Rebels
- Wheat Kings Sign 1st Round Pick Jaxon Jacobson - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Thunderbirds Capture Game Four - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Thunderbirds Lead WHL Championship Series 3-1 - Winnipeg Ice
- Thunderbirds Push ICE to Brink Following Game 4 of 2023 WHL Championship Series Presented by Nutrien - WHL
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