THUNDERBIRDS

Steve Konowalchuk: T-Birds need to be more predictable against Windsor

May 21, 2017, 9:07 AM

Seattle opened round-robin play with a 4-2 loss to the Erie Otters (Aaron Bell/CHL Images)...

Seattle opened round-robin play with a 4-2 loss to the Erie Otters (Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

(Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

Prior to Sunday’s second game in the round-robin Memorial Cup against the Windsor Spitfires, T-Birds head coach Steve Konowalchuk emphasized the team’s need to be more predictable than they were in their opener against the Erie Otters on Saturday.

“It starts in the neutral zone. If we weren’t turning the puck over, we were going offsides because we weren’t predictable,” Konowalchuk told the media gathered at the WFCU Centre in Windsor. “When we’re playing well we’re a pretty predictable team. We’re putting pucks into spaces and we’re chasing them down and supporting each other.”

Thunderbirds tentative in 4-2 Memorial Cup opening loss to Erie

Unsatisfied with his team’s overall performance in their 4-2 loss, Konowalchuk seemed to have hope that the Thunderbirds would play a simpler game and avoid trying to do too much against a Windsor team that won their opener against the QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs.

“We’re better than that. We’re usually a pretty predictable team and what you see is what you get. It didn’t feel like it was that way at times,” said Konowalchuk following the team’s morning video review session. “We need to engage in some more battles. The other teams obviously have some say in what you do and how you play but during the game and even re-watching the game it was uncontested mistakes we were making. We’ll just move on and I expect our guys to be better today.”

The T-Birds and Spitfires face off on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PT.

Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds GM Bil La Forge has some moves to make this offseason. (Brian Liesse/T-Birds photo)...

Andy Eide

Thunderbirds GM Bil La Forge dishes on the upcoming offseason

Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge will make some moves this summer to improve his club. Will they be big ones?

3 years ago

Seattle’s Keltie Jeri-Leon celebrates his final WHL goal Sunday against Spokane. (Brian Liess...

Andy Eide

Thunderbirds end strange and hard season on a high note with dominating win over Spokane

The Seattle Thunderbirds dealt with a lot of adversity this season but end on a high note.

3 years ago

Keltie Jeri-Leon plays his final WHL game for the Thunderbirds Sunday night. (Brian Liesse)...

Andy Eide

Keltie Jeri-Leon set to play his final WHL game as Thunderbirds face Spokane Sunday

After five seasons, Seattle's lone over-aged player, Keltie Jeri-Leon will play his final junior game Sunday night.

3 years ago

Seattle rookie Scott Ratzlaff won his first WHL game in his first start. (Judy Simpson/TC Americans...

Andy Eide

Scott Ratzlaff earns first WHL win as Thunderbirds beat Tri-City

Behind a rookie goalie, the Thunderbirds kicked off the season's final weekend with a 5-2 win in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans.

3 years ago

The Seattle Thunderbirds celebrate after snapping a six-game losing streak Sunday night. (Brian Lie...

Andy Eide

Thunderbirds enjoy winning again after snapping six-game losing streak

The Seattle Thunderbirds have been scuffling but battled against a good Portland Winterhawks club to snap a six-game losing streak.

3 years ago

Thunderbirds forward Reid Schaefer fights for position Sunday in Portland. (Megan Connelly/Winterha...

Andy Eide

Dealing with adversity, young Thunderbirds drop pair of games in Portland

Injuries and penalties have thrown a ton of adversity at the young Thunderbirds which showed up in a pair of losses at Portland this weekend.

3 years ago

Steve Konowalchuk: T-Birds need to be more predictable against Windsor