The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Everett Silvertips 2-1 Friday at Xfinity Arena in Everett to take a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Round 2 playoff series.
The T-Birds can clinch the series with a Game 5 win Saturday and advance to the Western Conference finals. Face-off is 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 15:05 of the first period after two video reviews of a goal by Josh Uhrich. Ethan Bear passed the puck to Ryan Gropp who skated up the left wing. Gropp’s shot from the left circle rebounded off Everett goalie Carter Hart and into the slot. Uhrich, who was charging down the slot, put the puck into the net.
The referee waived off the goal and it went to video review. After a lengthy review, the referees ruled no goal. One of the referees came to the Seattle bench to explain the decision to Seattle coach Steve Konowalchuk. After talking to the Seattle coach and before the ensuing face-off, the referees were called back to the penalty boxes and put the headsets back on. After about two minutes, the referees awarded Uhrich the goal.
Seattle outshot Everett 10-1 in the first period. Seattle goaltender Landon Bow did not make a save in the first period until there was 29 seconds left in the period.
The ‘T-Birds took a 2-0 lead at 3:08 of the second period on a breakaway goal by Gropp, who split two Everett defensemen to get to a loose puck and come in alone on Hart. Gropp beat Hart over the blocker for the goal.
Everett got on the board at 9:20 of the second on a goal from Patrick Bajkov.
The T-Birds outshot the Silvertips 13-10 in the second period and led 23-11 in shots after two periods.
The T-Birds kept the ‘Tips hemmed in their zone for the second half of the third period. Everett was able to pull Hart for an extra attacker with one minute left in the game. The T-Birds kept the ‘Tips at bay to secure the win.
Seattle goalie Landon Bow stopped 15 of 16 shots to get his seventh win of the playoffs.
Hart stopped 34 of 36 shots in the loss.
Tickets
The ShoWare Center box office will open at a special time of 10 a.m. Saturday, which is two hours earlier than normal for a game day. The T-Birds are expecting a large number of fans purchasing tickets Saturday and this early opening will help accommodate fans and keep the lines at the ShoWare Center box office short.
Single-game tickets are also on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Uhrich 1 (Gropp, Bear), 15:05. Penalties – Ottenbreit, Sea (roughing), 19:31. Ralph, Evt (roughing), 19:31.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Gropp 1, 3:08. 3, Everett, Bajkov 4 (Davis, Skrumeda), 9:20. Penalties – Davis, Evt (interference), 3:20. Leth, Sea (goaltender interference), 6:02.
Third period – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 10-13-13 36, Everett 1-10-5 16. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 16 shots-15 saves (7-1); Everett, Hart 36-34 (2-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-1; Everett 0-1. A – 5,865. Referees – Mike Campbell, Reagan Vetter. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Ron Dietterle.
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