The Seattle Thunderbirds picked up four points as they took two wins in week three of the WHL season.
Cooling off the Chiefs
Starting with a Tuesday tilt at home, the Thunderbirds took down the Spokane Chiefs in front of a crowd of just under 2,300. The Chiefs came to the accesso ShoWare Center, having won two of their previous three games, but Seattle proved too much for them. With goals from five different skaters, including one from a Mekai Sanders penalty shot, the home team fought their way to a 5-3 victory, having not given up the lead at any point of the game.
Chiefs goaltender Mason Beaupit turned aside 30-of-35 Thunderbirds shots, but his efforts were not enough to keep his team afloat against a strong Seattle offence.
For the Thunderbirds, Scott Ratzlaff took his place in net, allowing Thomas Milic a game night off for the first time this season.
Taking down Tri-City
The team then took to the road and picked up their second win of the week against the Tri-City Americans. Once again, coming out strong and scoring five, the Thunderbirds may just have found their groove this season. Friday’s matchup on the road was backstopped by a shutout performance from Milic as he turned away all 19 Americans shots.
Forward Jordan Gustafson scored two in a row to pick up the first multi-goal game of his career, bringing his season total to three. He currently has seven points through Seattle’s first seven games this season.
First multiple goal game of Jordan Gustafson’s WHL career!
📸 Doug Love pic.twitter.com/e7zqBHv10d— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) October 23, 2021
Starting for Tri-City, Talyn Boyko did everything possible, making 35 saves on the 39 shots he faced. However, following the fourth Thunderbirds goal, Nick Avakyan took over for Boyko in the Americans net. He continued to stop six of the final seven shots Seattle sent his way.
The game in Kennewick was Lucas Ciona‘s first game back from the two-game suspension he took in the 10/15 game against the Everett Silvertips.
Coming up
Each of the Thunderbirds’ three games this coming week are on the road, with the first game slated for Wednesday, 10/27, against the Portland Winterhawks. Puck drop is slated for 7 pm at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum as the next game in the I5 rivalry continues.
Then, on the weekend, Seattle is set to follow a trip to Spokane with a trip to Kennewick to rematch with the Chiefs and Americans for a Friday and Saturday back-to-back.
