Silvertips blitz T-Birds early, go on to win 3-1

EVERETT – The Thunderbirds skated into Everett Saturday night but didn’t do so with any intensity and suffered a tough loss because of it.

The T-Birds were blitzed early by the Silvertips and lost 3-1 in front of a loud, sold-out Xfinity Arena crowd. The Silvertips opened the game with 20 straight shots, got goals from three different scorers along with 19 saves by goalie Carter Hart to seal the win.

With the Silvertips fighting to hold onto their U.S. Division lead – and still smarting from their loss to Seattle on Friday – they came out flying. The T-Birds weren’t prepared to match their level of play early and paid for it.

“They were definitely smarter,” head coach Steve Konowalchuk said about the first period. “I thought at times we were intense … but we crossed the line. They were definitely mentally and physically more prepared than we were.”

The first period was dominated by the Silvertips. They scored, had four power-play chances and outshot Seattle 20-1. Seattle’s lone shot came just before the horn to end the period.

Seattle played into Everett’s hands by playing without discipline, which allowed the Silvertips to control the game early. Remarkably, it looked like Seattle might escape the period unscathed. Goalie Taran Kozun was spectacular in the first period, making numerous big saves.

The T-Birds gave Everett four power-play chances on what Konowalchuk referred to as “careless” penalties. Overall, Seattle was short-handed eight times on the night.

Late in the period the Silvertips went on the power play and finally managed to get one past Kozun. It was a bit of a bad break for Seattle’s goaltender as Ben Betker’s point shot went wide but rebounded off the end boards back out in front. There, Remi Laurencelle was waiting to bang the puck home.

In all, Seattle spent most of the first period killing off penalties and chasing. The T-Birds were unable to gain any real sustained puck possession and it ended up being costly.

The Silvertips carried that momentum into the second period where they extended their lead early after Jordan Wharrie blasted a slap shot past Kozun for Everett’s second goal.

The T-Birds had their chances in the second to get back in it. Twice Cory Millette had Hart down but could not get the puck over him.

“We had a chance there, I think we can make it 2-1 and get some momentum going,” Konowalchuk said. “I thought a couple times in the second we tried to get a little momentum going and then right back into the penalty box.”

Seattle couldn’t capitalize and it resulted in a scoreless period for the T-Birds and Everett would put the dagger in late.

On the power play again, Betker took a slap shot from the point that found the back of the Seattle net. The goal came with 6 seconds left in the period and put Seattle in a hole it could not climb out of.

“It’s a big goal, that third goal,” Konowalchuk said. “Again, it was just a game where we didn’t have a lot of guys play good games outside of Kozun, who was really good.”

The T-Birds would get on the board with just under 2 minutes left in the game after Ryan Gropp fired a wrist shot from the crease. But as they did all night, they thwarted any comeback ideas by taking another penalty on the next shift.

Seattle will now prepare for the last week of the regular season and will play four games in five days, starting Tuesday at home, to finish. The loss eliminated the T-Birds from catching second place in the U.S. Division and they officially are aware that they will have to start the playoffs on the road.

Who they will play is still a mystery, however. Everett started the night three points ahead of Portland for the top spot. The Winterhawks dropped an overtime game to Prince George Saturday night so Everett’s lead now stands at four. Portland has two games in hand and can make those points up, which will make for an interesting last week in the season.

The T-Birds can’t coast through the last four games, however, as the Spokane Chiefs are only five points behind them. Spokane has a game in hand – Sunday afternoon in Portland – so Seattle still needs to win to wrap up the third spot.

Notes

• Carter Hart has been outstanding for the Silvertips this season. Gropp’s goal in the third robbed him of his third shutout against the T-Birds. The 16-year-old rookie seems to have taken Everett’s top goalie spot away from the veteran Austin Lotz.

• Seattle’s one shot in the first period was reflective of Everett carrying the play but the T-Birds probably deserved more help from the shot counters. It appeared that Seattle had a shot or two early that were not counted for some unknown reason.

• The T-Birds had three power-play chances of their own Saturday but failed to convert on any. Everett ended the night 2 for 8 with the man advantage.

• Seattle ends the regular season next Saturday with a home game against Portland. With the way the division is stacking up, the Winterhawks may need to win that game in order to win the division. That makes for an interesting game as it may also determine whether the T-Birds play them or Everett in the first round.

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