Hard to find fault when the Thunderbirds earns points in all three games this week and have points in four straight games. But as Head Coach Matt O'Dette said after the team's overtime loss in Spokane Saturday night, they have high standards and they expect to win. So, there is a little disappoinment in settling for one point, rather then getting the two in each game this weekend.
I think the only real frustration was the overtime loss Friday night at home to Victoria. Three times in that game Seattle had the lead. Three times they couldn't hold it, before falling 5-4 in the extra period. They had such an excellent first period. They then grabed a 2-0 lead early in the second. I don't think they got complacent, but I think some players got away from the game plan, maybe cut some corners. That allowed Victoria back in to the game.
You might think dropping that game to a team that, at the time was in tenth place in the ten team Western Conference, was an ugly loss on the schedule. But while it doesn't completely take away the sting of the overtime defeat, look what the Royals did in their journey against the U.S. Division. They took all five teams to overtime and won four of them. Not only did they beat Seattle, but they beat Everett and Portland too.
The T-birds continue to consistently outshoot their opponents. In the three games this past week they had a 109-64 shot advantage. In the three games they averaged 36 shots per game (which, by the way, is their season average) while allowing an average of 21 shots against. Using my expert math skills I think that's 15 more shots per game then their opponents. At least, that's what my calculator tells me. What does that mean? How do you outshoot three opponents in that fashion and only go 1-0-2-0?
Getting more shots doesn't guarentee a win. You still have to finish your chances. It does give you a chance to win though. Sometimes you run into a hot goalie who steals a game from you. Sometimes there are shots that don't even count, like the ones off the post or crossbar, that trip you up. But usually more shots, and decidedly more shots, tells you which team is carrying the play. It usually indicates puck possession is tilted in your favor. What we do know is, that if you're not shooting, you're not scoring. Seattle is shooting.
Currently, Seattle is averaging 3.4 goals per game. I think they can do better, but that's pretty darn good considering they've played one third of their schedule without Henrik Rybinski in the lineup. That's a third of your season without one of your best offensive weapons available. There will be stretches of the season where the puck just isn't going in for you. Offense can be streaky, but you keep funneling pucks to the net because you can't win if you don't score and you can't score if you don't shoot. Offense is not an issue for the T-birds.
Sam Knazko is rusty. The newet T-bird hadn't played in a competive game in a while. He had played sparingly in just 16 games in Finland before opting out and deciding to come to North America. He then got Covid and had to shut down all hockey activity. He's still working on building back up his stamina. But in just two games, you can see glimpes of the elite talent he brings to the roster. Just don't say Seattle got lucky and he fell into their laps. Remember, he's a T-bird because GM Bil LaForge selected him in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.
Don't forget there is not one, but two WHL Drafts coming up this week. Wednesday is the U.S. Prospects Draft, a two round affair, and the T-birds have the number one overall selection. Thursday is the regular 2021 WHL Prospects Draft and Seattle chooses ninth overall in that one, and has four of the top forty picks. In the second round Seattle has their own pick at #31 as well as Red Deer's pick at #24 and Kelowna's at #38.
My T-birds Three Stars for the Week:
D Kevin Korchinski. He finally scored his first WHL goal Saturday in Spokane and it was a big one, tying the game at two and getting Seattle a road point. He had three points in the three games (1g, 2a). On a team that has two 20-year old D-men and now two 19-year old NHL drafted defensemen, this 17-year old, still somewhat of a rookie, still logs huge minutes on the blue line. He has seven points in his last eight games and is quietly fifth overall in team scoring.
Second Star: C Jordan Gustafson. Whie Korchinski was the second of Seattle's two first round picks in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Gustafson was their first and he is living up to that billing. He leads the team in goals scored with ten and is tied with Conner Roulette for the team lead in points at 24. With Rybinski out for seven straight games, Gustafson has been elevated to the top center role and has been not shrunk from the responsibility. He registered points in all three games this week (1g, 3a) and is currently riding a five game point streak.
First Star: C/W Jared Davidson. Davidson has really picked up his offensive game in the absence of Rybinski. He had five points (2g, 3a) in the three games this week and is riding a four game point streak (3g, 4a). He has already passed his point total from last season. Last spring he reached 20-points in 23 games. He now has 21 points in 22-games this season. His 21-points has elevated him to second on the team in scoring, just three points off the lead.
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