Thunderbirds clinch U.S. Division title with 11th straight win | WHL
Published 11:15 pm Tuesday, March 15, 2016
The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Spokane Chiefs 4-1 to clinch the Western Hockey League’s U.S. Division title on Tuesday night in front of 5,707 at the ShoWare Center.
The T-Birds (43-23-3-0), who extended their winning streak to 11 games, have won 15 of their last 16 games. Seattle also has a 10-game winning streak at home.
The T-Birds have three games remaining in the regular season before opening the playoffs at home March 25 and 26. They play the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick at 7:05 p.m. Friday. The Portland Winterhawks visit the ShoWare Center for a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday. The T-Birds travel to Portland to play the Winterhawks at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Scott Eansor had a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s win.
Seattle goalie Landon Bow made 18 saves on 19 shots to improve to 24-2-4-0.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead on an Eansor goal at 5:11 of the first period.
The T-Birds took a 2-0 lead at 4:47 of the second period on Jared Hauf’s second goal of the season.
Seattle made it 3-0 on Mathew Barzal’s penalty shot at 17:22 of the second. It was Barzal’s 26th goal of the season.
Turner Ottenbreit put the T-Birds in front 4-0 at 6:40 of the third period.
Spokane (31-29-5-4) got on the board when Matt Sozanski scored at 12:59 of the third.
The T-Birds outshot the Chiefs 10-7 in the third period and 35-19 in the game.
Petersen made 31 saves on 35 shots and his record is now 10-6-1-0.
Tickets
The T-Birds host the first two games of the playoffs on March 25 and 26 against a still to be determined opponent.
Single-game playoff tickets are on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office, which is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday game days at noon.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Eansor 10 (Neuls, Volcan), 5:11. Penalties – McIndoe, Spo (high-sticking), 10:03. Ke. Yamamoto, Spo (cross checking), 12:29. Kolesar, Sea (hooking), 16:41.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Hauf 2 (Eansor, Neuls), 4:47. 3, Seattle, Barzal 26, 17:22 (pen/pp). Penalties – Hauf, Sea (boarding), 1:44. Anderson, Spo (double minor-high-sticking), 14:57.
Third period – 4, Seattle, Ottenbreit 5 (Smith, Eansor), 6:40. 5, Spokane, Sozanski 1 (Elynuik, Hamaliuk), 12:59. Penalties – Henderson, Spo (interference), 4:47. Sozanski, Spo (interference), 16:37. Leth, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:37. Bechtold, Spo (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:37.
Shots on goal – Seattle 13-12-10 35, Spokane 5-7-7 19. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 19 shots-18 saves (24-20-4-0); Spokane, Petersen 35-31 (10-6-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Spokane 0-1. A – 5,707. Referees – Kevin Bennet, Jeff Ingram. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Devon Sephton.
