Streaking Thunderbirds down Winterhawks, clinch playoff spot | WHL

The Seattle Thunderbirds clinched a Western Hockey League playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the rival Portland Winterhawks in front of 5,564 fans at the ShoWare Center on Saturday night.

Seattle (39-23-3-0), winners of 11 of its last 12 games, is on a seven-game winning streak and in sole possession of first place in the U.S. Division, two points ahead of the Everett Silvertips, who lost 5-3 to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday.

The T-Birds have seven games remaining in the regular season.

Seattle travels to Kennewick to play the Americans on 5:50 p.m. Sunday at the Toyota Center.

Seattle goalie Landon Bow had very good game, making 32 saves on 33 shots to improve his record to 21-20-4-0.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Ethan Bear at 5:41 of the first period. Ryan Gropp passed the puck to Mathew Barzal in the right circle. Barzal crossed the puck to Bear in the left circle. Bear one-timed the pass past Portland goalie Adin Hill for his 18th goal of the season.

Barzal extended his point streak to 13 games with the assist.

The T-Birds outshot the Winterhawks 10-7 in the first period.

Portland (33-28-4-0) tied the game 1-1 at 9:07 of the second period on a goal from Rihards Bukarts. Cody Glass had the only assist.

The T-Birds took the lead back at 10:42 of the second. Off a faceoff in the left circle of the Portland zone, Scott Eansor won the puck to his right. Donovan Neuls poked the puck back to Nolan Volcan on top of the left circle. Volcan put a wrist shot over Hill’s blocker for the go-ahead goal.

Portland outshot Seattle 13-10 in the second period. Both teams had 20 shots on goal after two periods.

Portland pulled Hill for an extra attacker with a minute and a half left in the game. Bow made several good saves to keep the Winterhawks from tying the game.

Both teams finished with 33 shots on goal in the game.

Hill finished the night making 32 saves on 33 shots and his record is now 31-25-3-0.

Tickets

Tickets are available at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office, which is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Bear 18 (Barzal, Gropp), 5:41 (pp). Penalties – Osterman, Sea (interference), 2:14. Texeira, Por (high-sticking), 4:27. Dougherty, Por (delay of game), 11:17.

Second period – 2, Portland, Bukarts 26 (Glass), 9:07. 3, Seattle, Volcan 15 (Neuls, Eansor), 10:42. Penalties – Texeira, Por (roughing), 15:36. Schuldhaus, Sea (roughing), 15:36.

Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Bukarts, Por (tripping), 1:11. Iverson, Por (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:40. Hauf, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:40.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-10-13 33, Portland 7-13-13 33. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 33 shots-32 saves (21-20-4-0); Portland, Hill 33-31 (31-24-3-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Portland 0-2. A – 5,564. Referees – Mike Campbell, Steve Papp. Linesmen – Michael Bean, Ron Dietterle.