Thunderbirds Edge out Everett
April 11, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT, Wash. - Jordan Gustafson scored in his return from injury and the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Everett Silvertips, 4-1, Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center. Coupled with the Kelowna Rockets loss to Vancouver, the win earns Seattle home ice advantage in their first-round playoff series with the Rockets. First up though, Seattle travels to Langley, B.C. Wednesday to play the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre in the second to last game of the regular season
Seattle (42-18-4-2) got on the board at 6:16 of the first period on Lukas Svejkovsky's 35th goal of the season, as he put back a rebound of a Jared Davidson shot. Kevin Korchinski had the second assist. With the goal, Svejkovsky extended his point streak to seven games.
Head coach Matt O'Dette says the early goal was a result of being prepared from the opening puck drop. "I thought we were dialed in right from the start, playing our formula that works for us. Every player bought in to how we needed to play to win tonight."
Gustafson doubled the T-birds advantage when he scored at 13:21 of the second period, snapping home a drop pass from Sam Knazko. The goal would stand up as the game winner. Gustafson was happy to contribute in his first game back after missing six straight with an upper body injury. "It was fun being back in the lineup. Those are fun games, the whole team appreciates playing in those type of games against Everett, so it was nice to come back and contribute to a win tonight."
O'Dette said getting injured players like Lucas Ciona and Gustafson back in the lineup this weekend can only help his team heading toward the playoffs. "It definitely helps us round out some of our depth up front. We're able to roll out four good lines. It was really nice to have that continuity and keep lines together throughout most of the game."
Everett made it a one goal game when they scored at 15:52 of the third period when Austin Roest knocked home a rebound. The Silvertips would then pull the goalie late for the extra skater in the final two minutes. But they would come no closer as Seattle scored twice into the empty net. First it was Nico Myatovic at 19:01, assisted by Reid Schaefer and Henrik Rybinski, followed by Reid Schaefer at 19:27, with Myatovic earning the assist.
Thomas Milic stopped 17-shots to earn 26th win in net.
After their Wednesday game against Vancouver, the Thunderbirds play their final regular season game Friday in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans.
T-BIRD EXTRAS
Seattle will face the Kelowna Rockets in the opening round of the 2022 WHL postseason. The series begins Friday, April 22nd in Kent. Tickets go on sale later this week at seattlethunderbirds.com
There was a scary moment in the game when Everett defenseman Olen Zellweger lost his helmet then fell to the ice in behind the Seattle net and appeared to strike his head on the ice. He was placed on a stretcher and taken off the ice. He appeared to give a thumbs up sign as he left. There was no further update on his condition.
The T-birds finish with a home record of 21-8-3-2. With two road games remaining, Seattle has already established a franchise record for wins on the road with 21. The previous record was 20 road wins, set in the 2004-05 season.
This is also the first time since the 2004-05 season that Seattle will finish the season with 20 or more wins both at home and on the road. In 2004-05 Seattle finished with 23 home wins and 20 road wins.
While Jordan Gustafson was back in the lineup after a six-game absence, Seattle once again played without Ryan Gottfried, who missed his seventh straight game with a lower body injury. Mekai Sanders remains out for the season with a lower body injury.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2022
- Winterhawks Weekly: Hawks Win Two, Clinch First-Round Home-Ice Advantage - Portland Winterhawks
- Wilson, Warriors Pleased with his WHL Debut - Moose Jaw Warriors
- ICE Announce Opening Games Playoff Dates - Winnipeg Ice
- Toyota Hockey Fan Fest April 23 - Portland Winterhawks
- Hurricanes Netminder Thomson Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Blackhawks Prospect Dach Named WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Former Winterhawks Captain Nick Cicek Signs NHL Contract with San Jose - Portland Winterhawks
- Silvertips Bested by T-Birds 4-1 in Kent - Everett Silvertips
- Thunderbirds Edge out Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
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