Saturday night in Everett was the T-Birds at their very best. Minus a sluggish start and an initial power play that couldn't get out of its own way, it was 60 minutes of hockey played the T-Birds way. Get pucks in deep, attack on the forecheck and force the opponents to play much of the game in their own end. At the other end, keep shots to the outside and get in to passing lanes or sellout to block as many shots as possible. Then add in a strong dose of solid goaltending and exceptional penalty killing. Doing that, Seattle, by the third period, had worn down their opponent. That effort might seem manic, but that is by design. Just keep putting constant pressure on the puck. That's the T-Birds way.
Seattle had a poor first shift. As a result, the Silvertips scored just 65-seconds into the game. On the road, before a hostile crowd it could have been the first ingredient for a recipe to disaster. Seattle didn't buckle though. They wobbled but stayed upright. Andrej Kukuca made a terrific read on a poor Everett cross-ice pass at the Seattle blue line. He stole the puck and raced up ice on a 2-on-1 one rush with Conner Roulette. He then unleashed a beauty of a shot that tied the game, 1-1, three minutes into the game.
If that wasn't the turning point then the T-Birds two penalty kills in the first period were. Everett entered the game tops in the league with the man advantage, clicking at just under 26%. They were 10-for-24 on the power play over their last six games. Led by Roddy Ross between the pipes, Seattle silenced the 'Tips power play. Henrik Rybinski and Brendan Williamson were two of Seattle's best penalty killers all night, but it was a total team effort in that regard. The first period PK denied Everett the chance to get momentum on their side. The same was true in the second period when the Silvertips were awarded three straight power plays over the last seven minutes. One goal against in that situation could have been enough to put Seattle too far behind the eight ball. We talk often about gaining momentum off your power play, but the same is true of your penalty kill. Seattle's successful kills energized the entire team.
Greasy goals. We hear that expression all the time. They are effort goals, never-quit-on-the-puck goals. They are funnel-pucks-to-the-net-and-bang-away-until-you-hear-the-whistle goals. And they are game winning goals as was the case Saturday. The T-Birds dominated the third period by putting everything they could on net. If the shot was saved, they just did it again. Do it enough and eventually it will lead to a rebound or deflection that gives you a second or third chance opportunity. That describes the T-Birds game winner. Owen Williams just flung a puck on net. After a couple of rebounds by Rybinski and Roulette clanked off the post, Keltie Jeri-Leon finally tucked it home.
In two games in Everett this season the T-Birds have outshot the Silvertips 73-58. In the third period of those two games the shots favor Seattle 33-14. Seattle only has one goal to show for it, but that might have something to do with the quality of the opposing goalie. It's no reason to stop shooting. Meanwhile, over the course of those two road games against their division rival, Seattle and Ross have allowed just two goals against, and one of those came in overtime. Over his last four road starts in Everett, dating back to last February 22nd, Ross has a 1.20 goals against average, a .964 save percentage, stopping 135 of 140 shots while posting a 2-0-2-0 record.
Over their last four games Seattle has allowed just 10 goals against with one of those being an empty netter. So really it has been 3, 2, 3 and 1 goal allowed in those games. This four game stretch comes after a game in which the T-Birds surrendered 10 goals in one game up in Kamloops. The better team defense coincides with the return to the lineup of captain Matthew Wedman, from a four-game suspension, and defenseman Cade McNelly, off an 18-game injury. The past four games has seen the T-Birds roster at it's healthiest and most complete. For a young roster, missing key players from the lineup matters.
Saturday night was also a fourth straight game where the T-Birds young rookies played like anything but rookies, as Seattle got consistent play from that group once again. Williamson, Roulette, Matt Rempe, Lucas Ciona and Kai Uchacz are carving out roles but most importantly, they are playing the T-Bird way. You don't have to end up on the scoresheet to affect games and Ciona and Rempe, with their physical style, exemplify that.
More important was the effort of Seattle's veteran core group. They too, after collectively having an off night Wednesday, got back to playing T-Birds hockey. Kukuca and Jeri-Leon had the goals but Wedman, Rybinski, Ryan Gottfried and Conner Bruggen-Cate were all noticeable for the right reasons. And did anyone have a better game than d-man Williams? He came to Seattle a few years ago from Regina with the reputation as an offensive-minded defenseman, but his d-zone play has been outstanding, especially over this four game stretch.
As you read this another T-Bird rookie, 16-year old Mekai Sanders, is probably on the ice skating once again after a two month layoff due to a lower body injury. Soon he'll be cleared to play. Another piece of the future, but also for the present, ready to get into the fight for ice time.
My T-Birds Three Stars for Thanksgiving Week:
Third Star: C Matt Rempe. Rempe scored his second goal of the season Wednesday in the loss at home to Victoria and he did it from his knees. What kind of goal was it? A greasy goal, banging away at a loose puck in the crease. Meanwhile the 17-year old rookie is showing his value in the face off circle as well, winning 45 percent of his faceoffs. His physical style fits well in the T-Birds brand of play. Got into his first WHL scrap, but it wasn't a fair fight. He got jumped from behind after delivering a clean, monster hit. If I was gonna pick a fight with a guy 6'8", I probably wouldn't want to attack him face on either.
Second Star: D Owen Williams. He was on the ice for a great deal of the third period Saturday in Everett, expending a lot of energy. Yet, he still had enough gas in the tank to continue to win his puck battles, especially in the D-zone. He also knocked down a couple of Everett clearing attempts, extending Seattle's O-zone time and of course, he set up the game winning goal.
First Star: Goalie Roddy Ross. Ross stopped 62 of 66 shots over the course of two games. As you can see by the numbers posted above, he loves playing at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. His record would be much better then the current 7-9-2-1 if he had more offensive support in front of him. He was Seattle's best penalty killer Saturday against the Silvertips helping the T-Birds kill off all five Everett power plays.
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