Two games, two ties at the end of regulation, one shootout loss and one overtime loss. Sounds a little unsatisfying, and to be clear the team was disappointed that they couldn't pull out the wins, but earning two very meaningful points on the weekend keeps this team in the driver's seat for a playoff spot. Seattle's record over their last five games reads 1-2-2-0. Reality is they had just one non-competitive game in that stretch, the 8-0 loss in Everett. Otherwise, they were in every game until late in the third period or beyond. That's what you play for, a chance to be in there at the end of the game.
One of the reasons shootouts were introduced into the North American game was because a lot of folks were left with an unfulfilled feeling when games ended in a tie. If you were at the game Saturday night against Portland, a tie was probably the best result. That game had everything. Most of all it had lots of drama and high entertainment value. It was what a rivalry game should be. It was back and forth. there were big hits, highlight reel goals, plenty of offense and big saves by two NHL drafted goalies. If you had walked out of that building with a 5-5 tie would you have been disappointed?
What left me feeling "meh" after the game was the shootout to decide the winner. You wait seven or eight minutes while the Zamboni does a scrape then sit back while shooters line up to take their chance. It's sort of like being at one of those games of chance on the Midway at the State Fair. Sure, I guess there is drama in a shootout but it's not the same as the action we witnessed for 65 minutes. The game that was action packed for over an hour, ended with a one-on-one skills competition that, and this is just my opinion, sucked some of the air out of the arena. I'm fine with games that end in ties.
I'm also more then fine that the coaches weren't going to give the team a complete pass for coming from behind against Portland to forge that 5-5 tie. Young team or not, the coaches expect to win every night. I like how they let the team know that straying from the game plan is not okay. Seattle built their two goal lead by playing the T-bird way. they lost their two goal lead because they tried to force things that weren't there. They got caught up trying to out-Portland, Portland.
If this weekend proved anything, it proved that Matt O'Dette's systems work against any team in the league. When the T-birds played their heavy game, whether it was against the Winterhawks or up in Kelowna Friday, when they got pucks in deep and forced the opposing team to play below their own goal line Seattle got the advantage territorially. When they manage the puck properly leaving their defensive zone, they won the puck possession battle. O'Dette and staff drum that into the players at every practice, at every pregame meeting, in between periods. But, teenagers. If you're a parent, you understand. I'm always reminding my kids about putting things away or cleaning their rooms. Once is never enough.
Eighty-five percent of the time this weekend the coaches believed their team did things the right way. It was the other 15-percent that was the difference between a 2-0 weekend record and an 0-0-1-1 mark. That 15 percent was the difference between earning four points and settling for two.
The T-birds are halfway through their season series with Portland and are 2-3-1 against their long time rivals. Against the team that currently holds the top record in the WHL and hasn't lost in regulation in 21 games, the T-birds have earned five points. Half the games have gone past regulation to decide. Another was a 2-1 nail biter. Another six games to go with the Winterhawks and there is no reason Seattle can't earn another five or more points in the series.
Three of the T-birds next four games are against two teams behind them in the standings. Tuesday they host Tri-City. After a game next weekend down in Portland, Seattle travels up to Prince George for two against the Cougars. There are no easy games in the WHL. Fighting for a playoff spot with PG and the Ams, the T-birds have a chance to solidify their hold on the eighth seed. You know both the Americans and Cougars are looking at those Seattle games as "must wins". Seattle has to have the same approach. In fact, three of Seattle's next six games will be against Prince George. It's a stretch of games that could decide who goes into the postseason and who stays home.
Want to win the puck possession battle? Win your faceoffs. This weekend Max Patterson won 30 of 47 draws including 20 of 28 Saturday against Portland. A good chunk of those were in the third period, in the defensive zone while Seattle was shorthanded. That's an underrated stat that helped Seattle earn two points on the weekend.
Just my take, but Lucas Ciona has been Seattle's best rookie over the course of the season. It's not head and shoulders better then the rest of them but he displays a consistency from game to game that I like. It's like picking your favorite puppy from the litter when in reality, you want them all.
My T-bird Three Stars for the weekend:
Third Star: D Cade McNelly. McNelly had his first two-point game of his T-birds career. His second period goal Saturday sparked the three goal comeback. He is showing off his skill with the puck. He is becoming more adept at getting pucks up ice. I'll say this about his penalty that led to Portland's first power play goal; he delivered a clean hit but officiating in this league has him a marked man such that even when he delivers a clean hit, he expects a penalty or a challenge from an opposing player. Yes, part of that reputation has been earned but when he plays the game the right way, which he's been doing recently, he's a force. Credit the officials for not calling a penalty that last two times he delivered booming clean hits, but lets give Cade time to adjust to that as well.
Second Star: G Roddy Ross. Not often a goalie surrenders five goals in a game and you still point to him as a reason you got a point out of the contest. But Ross made some huge saves to deny Portland a sixth goal in regulation, particularly in the third period when the Winterhawks had two power play chances to break the tie. Ross was also one of Seattle's best players on the ice Friday in Kelowna and has strung together three solid starts going back to last Sunday vs. Everett.
First Star: D Simon Kubicek. Goals in back to back games. Heady play to keep driving the net late in the second period Saturday on a Seattle dump in that Portland goalie Joel Hofer misplayed. Kubi turned a nothing burger into a game tying goal that led to Seattle earning a crucial point in the standings. He has six points (2g,4a) and is +3 since returning from World Juniors including a two goal, +4 weekend.
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