These are Tri-ing Times

The Thunderbirds are four-fifths of the way through their stretch of five straight road games and have put the first four into the win column. As a result, the T-birds are riding a five-game winning streak, have improved their road record to 6-1-0-0 and, with fifteen points on the season, have jumped into a tie for first place in the U.S. Division. They accomplished that by taking three games in four nights this past week.

They also found a different formula for winning each game. Wednesday, though it was not necessarily what Head Coach Matt O'Dette wanted to see, they won a track meet down in Portland, defeating the Winterhawks, 6-4. Friday, they used superb goaltending, strong defending, and timely scoring to upend Spokane, 4-1. Saturday in Kennewick it was excellent penalty killing and puck possession that led them to a, 3-2, overtime win over Tri-City. Again, good teams find ways to win.

In the first two games last week, Seattle surrendered a combined five power plays to Portland and Spokane and did not allow a power play goal against. Somehow Saturday against the Americans, the T-birds had most of the puck possession and outshot Tri-City 50-21. Yet the Ams ended up with seven power plays to the T-birds two. Seattle did not get a man advantage chance until the third period. I am not sure how that happens. 

Were the Thunderbirds reckless and undisciplined? I didn't see that. Aggressive? Sure, they were the team dictating the pace, but the team dictating the pace of play should not be penalized more than the team chasing the action. Fortunately, the Thunderbirds killed off seven of those eight Tri-City power plays, including a lengthy 5-on-3 in the second period.

O'Dette says the T-birds were feeling the effects of playing their third game in three nights towards the end of the game in Kennewick. It did not show on the ice as Seattle was pushing late in regulation for the go-ahead goal. Good teams push through adversity and dig a little deeper. The T-birds did that. The three goals they scored against the Americans Saturday was the fewest they have scored in a win this season, but it took a 47-save effort from Tri-City goalie Talyn Boyko to keep them from scoring more.

Seattle has scored 37-goals through the first ten games this season. They were shutout once (3-0 loss in Everett, October 16th). So, in the nine games in which they have scored a goal, they are averaging 4.1 goals per game. In their seven wins they are averaging nearly five goals per game (4.42). In their current five-game winning streak they are averaging 4.6 goals per game. Only twice this season have they failed to score at least three goals. One, of course, was the shutout loss.  The other was a 4-2 setback at home to Portland. On both occasions, Seattle still managed 30 or more shots on goal.  Sometimes you just run in to a hot goalie.

The offense is there. Seattle has the talent to put the puck in the back of the net. In fact, there is probably more offense waiting to be unleashed. The T-birds have only gotten five goals thus far from their defenseman and Jared Davidson has only scored once in ten games. What the Thunderbirds need to do to consistently bring their "A" game to the rink every night, is tighten up the back end. They are still allowing too many odd man rushes; they are still letting opposing players get in behind them on stretch passes. It is putting unnecessary pressure on their goalies.

They made it a focal point of their game plan over the weekend against Spokane and Tri-City. They thus limited those chances against. It is a big reason they only allowed three goals against in those two games, so we know they can eliminate those plays from the opposition without sacrificing their own offensive production. 

The finish line for this five-game road stretch is in view, but there is one game remaining before they get back home to the accesso ShoWare Center this Saturday. Friday, they travel back to Kennewick for the front half of a home-and-home against the Americans. 

 

My T-birds Three Stars for the Week:

Third Star:  G Scott Ratzlaff. He deserved his first WHL shutout in the 4-1 win in Spokane. Seattle got a little complacent on their power play and allowed the Chiefs to score a late shorthanded goal. You could not fault Ratzlaff on that. Otherwise, he was on point and had terrific rebound control. Before the T-birds got their offense going, he held Spokane off the board. He just seemed in perfect position for every shot that came his way, the definition of "dialed in".

Second Star:  C/W Jordan Gustafson. Three more games, three more goals. He now leads the team with six goals on the season. Five of them have come during this current four game, road winning streak. But it is not just his goal scoring that attracts your attention. he plays a complete game and shows his responsibility in the defensive zone every game. I enjoyed watching him hold his own in battles against Spokane's Jack Finley, who is two years older and a 2020 second round pick of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.

First Star:  C Henrik Rybinski. Much like Gustafson, his value is in more than the offense he helps create. He attacks the puck all over the ice. He is driving the play whenever he is out there. He never gives less than 100 percent on any shift. He is a big reason Seattle killed off seven Tri-City power plays Saturday, and of course it was his own hard work on the PK that set up his shorthanded goal Saturday. He doesn't have to score to affect a game but he's currently riding a five-game point streak (2g, 4a).