THUNDERBIRDS

Thunderbirds come up short in New Year’s Eve clash with Winterhawks

Dec 31, 2019, 10:32 PM | Updated: 10:36 pm

Conner Bruggen-Cate fights for the puck with Portland's Kade Nolan during the Thunderbirds loss on ...

Conner Bruggen-Cate fights for the puck with Portland's Kade Nolan during the Thunderbirds loss on NYE. (Matthew Wolfe/Winterhawks)

(Matthew Wolfe/Winterhawks)

Looking at the scoresheet of the Thunderbirds New Year’s Eve tilt against the U.S. Division-leading Winterhawks, the numbers point to a Portland blowout.

Portland outshot Seattle 50-19, had six power-play chances to Seattle’s one and scored three unanswered goals to build a 3-1 lead in the second period. The Thunderbirds were also without top center Henrik Rybinski who was out with a lower-body injury.

Despite that, the Thunderbirds were pushing to tie the game late before falling 3-2 for a second straight loss to their rivals.

“I thought given the situation I think our guys played pretty hard,” Seattle head coach Matt O’Dette said. “They flung a lot of pucks and they shoot from different angles and I think that accounts for some of the shots. Probably could have moved it better but I’m happy with the way the guys battled. Tough building, we dealt with some adversity but gave ourselves a chance to win.”

Roddy Ross was big in net, making 47 saves to give Seattle (13-19-2-1) a chance to win the game. Cade McNelly and Conner Bruggen-Cate scored goals but the Thunderbirds would not be able to find the equalizer.

Portland (25-6-1-3) got goals from three different players and only needed 16 saves from goalie Isiah DiLaura to pick up the win and take sole possession of the division lead over the Everett Silvertips.

Rybinski was listed out as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Thunderbirds also would lose rookie center Matthew Rempe in the second period due to a five-minute major and game misconduct call for kneeing.

The Thunderbirds knew things would be tough and wanted to stick to a simple game plan.

“That’s always the game plan here, to make it somewhat of a boring game,” O’Dette said. “Slow the game down, manage the puck really well, play below their goal line and manage the momentum swings. I thought we did that for the most part. I thought we did a good job not getting involved in the track meet.”

Rempe’s penalty was one of four Seattle had to face in the second period as the Thunderbirds had to kill off nine minutes of Portland power plays.

The Thunderbirds killed it off, and all six Portland chances with the man advantage. It was a frustrating night as the Thunderbirds only got one power play and that didn’t come until late in the game, despite plays where Seattle felt a Portland penalty was warranted.

“I thought there were some calls we could have had,” O’Dette said. “I thought some of the calls on us were very weak. It’s frustrating. I feel for the guys, they’re very frustrated. The young kids are working very hard and I don’t feel that was an even standard tonight.”

McNelly gave Seattle a 1-0 lead just under six minutes into the first period with his first goal of the season. The Winterhawks answered right back, scoring twice in 44 seconds on goals by Jack O’Brien and Kishaun Gervais to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The Thunderbirds were outshot by Portland 23-3 during this past Saturday’s first period and the Winterhawks would have a 22-8 advantage on Tuesday.

Jaydon Dureau would score his fifth of the year midway through the second period to give Portland a 3-1 lead. Bruggen-Cate would score his seventh, and third in three games, to pull the Thunderbirds back to within one.

That’s as close as the Thunderbirds would get, however.

“We have a team that’s a young team playing for us tonight,” O’Dette said. “Guys were engaged, working hard and really wanted to win this game. We know it’s a tough building and a tough environment and I’m happy with the effort.”

The Thunderbirds will now head to the road for four more games, starting Friday night in Lethbridge as they complete their final swing through the Central Division.

They do so having lost two in a row but the road can be a bonding experience.

“We play the same teams quite often and it’s nice to get on the road in different buildings and see some different competition,” O’Dette said. “The guys look forward to these kinds of trips and I think it will be good for us.”

Game Notes

• Mekai Sanders made his Thunderbirds and WHL debut Tuesday night. Sanders, 16, is from Gig Harbor and was injured during the preseason. “He got his feet wet,” O’Dette said “It’s tough when you’ve been out that long and get thrown into the fire. We got some good shifts out of him and I expect him to get better every game.”

• O’Dette said the team would take it day by day with Rybinski’s injury but felt optimistic that he might be able to get back into the lineup this weekend.

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