DUBNetwork Game of the Night: Seattle Thunderbirds (11-17-2-1) @ Tri-City Americans (12-14-2-1) 7:05 PM PST
With only two nights of hockey left before the holiday break, both teams are looking to establish themselves as playoff hopefuls. The Thunderbirds are just two points back of the Americans for the final playoff seed in the Western Conference.
This game is a tale of two teams headed in different directions. For the Thunderbirds, it would appear that they are selling off assets to set themselves up for future seasons. But in doing so, they have given the young kids a chance to prove themselves and maybe eke out some playoff experience. They have gone 5-5-0-0 in their last 10 games and are knocking on the door of that coveted playoff position.
The Americans, on the other hand, are surprising people for all the wrong reasons. The team is mired in a four-game losing streak and have just one win in their last 11 games (1-8-2-0).
Tri-City is led by Colorado Avalanche draft pick Sasha Mutala. He is the only player on the team scoring at a point-per-game pace with 31 points in 28 games. The offense really takes a nosedive after Mutala, as Connor Bouchard is the only other player with 20 or more points (7G, 14A). Samuel Stewart leads the charge from the blue line with 11 points — six of them power-play assists.
Neither team has a potent power play. The Americans sit 14th at 19.6% and the Thunderbirds 20th at 12.5%. The penalty kill for Tri-City is excellent, killing off 84.2% of their penalties, while the Thunderbirds are struggling at 76.1% (17th).
The young Thunderbirds have dealt a lot of their best talent in the 19- and 20-year-old age groups. They are left with import Andrej Kukuca as their leading scorer. The 20-year-old from Trencin, Slovakia, has 23 points on the season. Eight players on Seattle have at least 10 points, including rookies Conner Roulette (8G,5A) and Matthew Rempe (5G, 6A).
When it comes to stopping pucks, both teams’ starting netminders have seen enough rubber to be ranked two and three in shots against. Beck Warm has seen 879 shots this season, stopping 807 (.918 save %). Not far behind is Roddy Ross who has seen 815 shots. He has stopped 742 of those shots for a save percentage of .910.
In other WHL action
Brandon Wheat Kings (14-15-1-2) @ Winnipeg ICE (19-12-1-0) 7:30 PM CST
The Wheat Kings have points in four straight games and the ICE has won seven of their last 10 games. The Wheat Kings have gotten the better of the ICE in the season series. They have a 3-2-0-0 record to the 2-3-0-0 record of the ICE. The Wheat Kings are trying to put some distance in the standings between themselves and the Red Deer Rebels who are just four points back.
Prince George Cougars (7-20-1-3) @ Vancouver Giants (14-14-1-1) 7 PM PST
Both teams have collected just eight of a possible 20 points in their last 10 games. Vancouver has won four times in that span while Prince George is 3-5-1-1. Recently returned to the Cougars, Vladislav Mikhalchuk has six points in 10 games. Tyler Preziuso has three goals in the two games for the Giants since being acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Spokane Chiefs (18-9-3-1) @ Victoria Royals (16-10-2-0) 7:05 PST
The Royals have been sneaky good this season. With just 28 games played, they trail the Kelowna Rockets by five points for second in the BC Division. Overage goaltender Shane Farkas has given his team every chance to win. His 12-5-1-0 record is among the best in the WHL. Campbell Arnold has been solid in net for the Chiefs as number one netminder Lukas Parik is with the Czech national junior team.
