T-Birds stretch win streak to four with 3-0 shutout of Vancouver

KENT – The Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Vancouver Giants 3-0 on Saturday night at the ShoWare Center to extend their winning streak to four games.

T-Birds goalie Taran Kozun stopped all 38 Giants shots he faced to pick up his third shutout of the season and second in his last three games.

“I’m seeing the puck really well,” Kozun said. “Even against Portland (a 6-3 Seattle win on Friday) I thought I was seeing it well. They got a couple goals, it happens, but the other games I’ve been seeing it well and the pucks are hitting me.”

Despite a couple of good chances for each side, Saturday night’s first period ended in a scoreless tie. Seattle (27-19-2-1) outshot Vancouver 9-7 during the game’s first 20 minutes.

The Thunderbirds got on the board early in the second period on Cory Millette’s 14th goal of the season. While on the power play after an Arvin Atwal tripping penalty, defenseman Ethan Bear gained control of the puck near the center of the blue line before firing a low slap shot towards Giants goalie Cody Porter. Porter made the initial save, but Millette was perfectly positioned in front of the net to pick up the rebound and lightly flip it over Porter and into the net. Mathew Barzal picked up the second assist on the evening’s first goal.

“I think as a group we’re playing our best,” Barzal said about the team’s recent success. “Everyone’s been buying in lately. Even that Kamloops game (when Seattle blew a 3-2 third period lead), we had a chance to close it out which would put us at six games (in a row). As a group, as a team, we’re playing our best hockey so far.”

Seattle made it 2-0 with 5:45 left in the second period on Nolan Volcan’s seventh goal of the season. Volcan skated the puck up the left wing and centered the puck to Donovan Neuls, whose initial shot was stopped by Porter. Volcan, sticking with the play, grabbed the rebound and beat Porter up high just inside of the crossbar. Evan Wardley picked up the second assist on the goal.

“I liked our first period,” Konowalchuk said. “I felt we were going at them a little bit and if we just stayed with it and kept grinding, it’s one of those kind of games and we got it in the second. I thought it might even take until the third – that team is playing good hockey over there.”

The T-Birds outshot Vancouver (21-29-1-2) 18-13 in the second period to give them a 27-20 advantage through 40 minutes.

Seattle notched a big insurance goal 2:27 into the third period just as a high-sticking penalty on Wardley expired. Roberts Lipsbergs broke the puck out of the Seattle zone on a 3-on-1 that turned into a 4-on-1 as Wardley left the penalty box. Lipsbergs hit Wardley in stride as he crossed the Vancouver blue line, at which point Wardley immediately tapped the puck over to Barzal, who was just a couple feet to his left. Barzal skated straight in on Porter and beat him with a perfectly placed wrist shot over his glove to make it 3-0.

Barzal, who missed over two months with a cracked kneecap, seems to have found his groove again, registering eight points in his previous four games.

“I felt really good the last two games,” Barzal said. “I think I’m almost (back to where I was before the injury). I think there are still some things I need to clean up. I need to focus on the details and battle a little harder.”

With a substantial lead built, it became Kozun’s time to shine. The first two periods essentially served as his warm-up for the third period, when he stopped all 18 Giants shots he faced.

“They were a little slow coming out of the gates, but in the third period they came out flying and our guys were kind of caught back on their heels,” said Kozun, who picked up his 24th victory of the season. “I like it better (when I see more shots) in the third because it usually means our guys were going in the first two periods and it’s better for the team.

The T-Birds were able to stay out of the box for the most part for the second night in a row, allowing only three power plays. One of those penalty kills came with just 1:39 left in the game when things were already well in Seattle’s control, and another led to the third Thunderbirds goal when Wardley left the box and was found in stride by Lipsbergs.

“We’re doing a better job controlling our sticks and when we’re hitting we’re keeping our hands and elbows down,” Konowalchuk said. “If you take penalties, even if you’re playing well it can give the other team a chance to get some life. It’s a constant battle to make sure we’re consistent there.”

The two teams face off again Monday at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Seattle is expecting a tough matchup from a team that currently sits in last place in the Western Conference but is only one point out of eighth place.

“It’s going to be tough,” Konowalchuk said. “They’re playing playoff hockey. They have to play playoff hockey at this point. We need to go with the same mentality and make sure we’re not satisfied.”

Barzal added to Konowalchuk’s thoughts, fully expecting Vancouver to play the entire game with the intensity that they showed during the third period.

“I haven’t had a good game up there so far so hopefully I can turn that around and have a good one,” Barzal said. “It’s a pretty good rivalry over the past three or so games we’ve played against each other. It’s going to be a hard game and we need to be ready.”

Notes

• During the Thunderbirds’ four-game winning streak they’ve outscored opponents by a 21-5 margin. Two of the victories were 3-0 shutouts, and in the other two they combined for 15 goals. Seattle is getting contributions from up and down the lineup and it seems that everyone is clicking right now. “Whenever you’re winning games, you need it from everybody,” Konowalchuk said. “You need everyone to contribute. You can’t count on one or two guys.”

• Since being acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders at the trade deadline for a sixth round draft pick, 19-year-old forward Cory Millette has 10 points in 12 games. In addition to his offensive contributions, he plays well defensively and provides veteran leadership. It appears he’ll be a strong candidate for an overage spot next season.

• A couple of tough guys were on display in the first period as Seattle’s Luke Osterman and Vancouver’s Josh Thrower fought twice in the game’s opening 20 minutes. Both were good scraps that ended with both players still standing at the end despite each getting some big shots in.

• Wardley, known far more for his intimidating presence on the back end, has six points in his previous five games on one goal and five assists.

• As the final horn sounded, Wardley checked Dalton Sward, who had checked Volcan as he cleared the puck. Sward took exception, which led to a melee after the final horn. Wardley and Atwal engaged each other and each received a fighting major, although no real punches were thrown before they were separated. However, Atwal was livid with Wardley and spent the next couple of minutes trying to break free of the linesman’s grasp and chase Wardley down. It should make for an interesting matchup on Monday.

Follow Tim Pigulski on Twitter @tpigulski.