(Kent, WA) Wednesday night at the Accesso ShoWare Center, the Seattle Thunderbirds looked to be in a very big hole. They fell behind the Vancouver Giants 3-0 in the second and were behind 3-1 with about 14 minutes left in regulation. They were so close to losing for the second straight night at home and falling into a tough 3-1 series hole in their best-of-seven first round matchup.
Then the Thunderbirds stormed back, scored three goals in the third and won 4-3.
The Game 4 victory, ties the series up at two games apiece and guarantees that Game 6 will be played Saturday night at the ShoWare Center.
Andrej Kukuca, Noah Philp and Matthew Wedman each had a goal and an assist for Seattle and Davis Koch had a goal and an assist of his own for Vancouver.
On the road, the Giants took the run of play in the first period
An already rough and tumble series between the two teams got even rougher early on.
Just 4:16 into the game, Seattle’s Sean Richards caught Vancouver forward Aidan Barfoot from behind and was tossed from the game.
Richards, who has been suspended five times in his WHL career, including twice this season, was assessed a five minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct.
Barfoot also left under his own power, though he also went down the tunnel and was done for the night.
“Not how you draw it up to start – killing off the five minute major. That was a really good job by the penalty kill to hold the fort. I thought we were okay the next little stretch of the game. But what can you say about these guys. The follow up shifts helped us build some momentum,” Seattle head coach Matt O’Dette said.
The Giants were dangerous on their five minute power play, but Seattle goalie Roddy Ross and the penalty kill kept them off the scoreboard.
Despite coming up empty on their long power play, the Giants struck first, thanks to an odd play.
Shortly after the media timeout, Dylan Plouffe’s harmless looking point shot was redirected into the Seattle net by Philp.
The Giants doubled that lead when the ice opened up during a four-on-four following matching penalties. Seth Bafaro sent Brayden Watts and Jared Dmytriw in on the rush and Watts took the feed from Dmytriw, scoring short side on Ross.
In the second, the Giants took advantage of a turnover and Tristen Nielsen faked a shot and found Koch for his first of the playoffs and a 3-0 Giants lead.
After Milos Roman took a hooking penalty, the Thunderbirds finally got on the board.
Funnily enough, Seattle ended up benefiting from a two-on-one short-handed rush by the Giants, springing on a rush of their own the other way after a Ross save.
“We knew we didn’t have our best in the first. We were trying to do too much with the puck. We just needed to get in on their D more. It showed. Their D started slowing up, going after the puck. We picked up the pace and it showed,” Wedman said.
Nolan Volcan drove the net and while he could not get a shot on, it created chaos in and around the Giants net.
Keltie Jeri-Leon scooped up the puck and went around behind the net, before looping around and finding daylight over Tendeck’s shoulder.
“That was a big goal. He stays positive the whole time, regardless of the amount of ice time he is getting. He got some momentum and some confidence going. He was feeling it tonight, he had some big shifts after that goal,” O’Dette stated.
The forward, who Seattle acquired as part of the trade deadline deal that sent goalie Liam Hughes to Lethbridge, also hit a post in the second and another good look be stopped by Giants goalie David Tendeck.
After being out shot 12-9 in the first, Seattle turned the table and out shot the Giants 13-11.
They kept the pressure on Vancouver in the third period and after Bowen Byram was called for tripping, they drew within one.
“Credit to the leaders in the room, they righted the ship there. We re-bought into the game plan and rode that the rest of the way,” O’Dette said.
Kukuca set up Philp at the left faceoff dot and Philp buried his first of the playoffs.
“That was a big goal for us too. It came right after a power play that we didn’t convert on. It was a really timely goal for us and kept us going,” O’Dette said.
It was another top defenseman for Vancouver in Alex Kannok-Leipert who gave Seattle another man advantage. This time Seattle got the tying goal on the actual power play and not right after.
Kukuca was right there for a big rebound off Tendeck’s pad and he buried it. Philp took the initial shot for Seattle.
The 2,270 fans present were starting to feel the possibility of Seattle completing the epic comeback.
They got their wish with a game-winning-goal by Wedman with 4:14 left.
Henry Rybinski was all over the forecheck, forced a turnover then drove behind the net and found a crashing Wedman in front.
“He (Rybinski) was good. We’ve been waiting for him to hit his playoff stride. I think there was nerves there in the first few games but you can see what he can do. With his work ethic and his second and third effort that he gives out there, he can cause havoc,” O’Dette said.
“He was a dog on a bone that shift. I got him the puck and beat my d-man to the net. He found me in the slot there and I squeaked it five-hole,” Wedman said of the work Rybinski did on his game-winner.
Roman had a prime chance to tie late with Tendeck pulled for an extra attacker but Ross turned him away.
Ross ended the night with 26 saves on 29 shots.
Game Notes:
-Prior to the game, the WHL suspended Seattle defenseman Cade McNelly one game for a threatening gesture he made in Game 3.
-There’s a strong probability Seattle will be without Richards now to due to suspension for his hit on Barfoot.
-Defenseman Luke Bateman and forwards Cody Savey, Kai Uchacz and Jared Davidson were also scratched.
-For Vancouver, they continue to be without 16-year-old forward Justin Sourdif, who was injured from a hit by Seattle’s Jake Lee in Game 1. Nick Draffin and goalie Drew Sim were also scratched. Lee returned to the lineup for Seattle in Game 4 after being suspended for the last two games.
-Game 5 goes Friday night in Langley.
-Seattle was 2-for-4 on the power play, while Vancouver went 0-for-2.
