THUNDERBIRDS

Silvertips down T-Birds 5-1, losing streak grows to 15

Jan 18, 2013, 10:39 PM | Updated: Jan 19, 2013, 3:02 pm

By Andrew Eide

EVERETT – The Seattle Thunderbirds out-shot the Everett Silvertips Friday by a tally of 45-23 but were still out-scored 5-1 on their way to their 15th straight loss. Everett, who has now won three straight against Seattle, was paced by Kohl Bauml’s two power play goals and 44 saves from Austin Lotz.

Seattle got behind early after Evan Wardley was given an instigator penalty two minutes into the game. Everett cashed in on the ensuing power play after a hard shot hit the glass and rebounded out in front of the net where Bauml was waiting to put it past Danny Mumaugh.

“I liked our forward lines through a lot of it,” head coach Steve Konowalchuk said. “I didn’t like our special teams, obviously that’s got to get better. We have to find a new chemistry on the power play, since the break we really haven’t had any goals so we’ve got to put something together.”

Mumaugh got the start as Brandon Glover was out with the flu and made 18 saves on the night while picking up the loss.

Despite getting down Seattle played well for the remainder of the first period. The line of Connor Honey-Alex Delnov-Roberts Lipsbergs was back together and was flying around the ice all night. They had several chances but were not able to get the puck past Lotz.

Seattle finally tied the game half way through the period when defenseman Jarret Smith scored his first WHL goal. It was a nice play by Smith who had to reach to keep the puck in the zone before flinging it through traffic in front of Lotz.

That was as close as Seattle would get. Everett came out in the second period and scored three goals, including Bauml’s second, and the T-Birds found themselves in familiar territory. Down and out.

“We’ve got to do a better job of defending the rush,” Konowalchuk said. “I thought our forwards did a good job dictating the tempo in their end, we could roll four lines which I’m happy about but when the other team comes down the ice we have to do a better job defending the rush. We gave up two power play goals and our power play doesn’t give us anything.”

By the end of the night the T-Birds had thrown 45 pucks at Austin Lotz, but as has been the case during this losing streak they couldn’t back of the net. There was some bad luck involved as well as a post was hit and other pucks slid just wide of the goal. At some point you would think Seattle’s puck luck will change.

“We still didn’t get enough traffic,” Konowalchuk said. “There going to come, early we pushed some just past the crease, we’re better than that. When you’re feeling good things seem to go your way, we’re not feeling good about ourselves but that’s even more reason to get traffic.”

The third period turned into a constant stream to the penalty box as tempers started to flare and frustration built. The teams combined for over 100 minutes in penalties and five fights on the night.

“You know, a good honest scrap I don’t have a problem with,” Konowalchuk said of the fisticuffs. “I don’t like some of our undisciplined penalties, I don’t have time for that, that’s got to change.”

If Seattle is going to avoid losing their 16th game in a row they will have to do it by beating the league’s best team, the Portland Winterhawks, on Saturday in Kent. Portland will be in a foul mood as they had their 14 game win streak snapped Friday night by Lethbridge, 5-4 in a shoot out.

Game Notes

Danny Mumaugh got the start because of Glover fighting the flu. The flu also kept Riley Sheen out of the lineup on Friday.

Special teams was a key to the game on Friday as Seattle was 0-for-4 with the man advantage and Everett scored twice on five chances.

Lotz has owned the T-Birds of late, in the three games he’s started against Seattle since the break he has only given up a total of three goals.

Seattle will play three-in-three this weekend as they take on Portland and Lethbridge on Saturday and Sunday.

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