The Seattle Thunderbirds are heading to the Western Conference final.
The T-Birds beat the Everett Silvertips 3-2 Saturday night at the ShoWare Center in Game 5 of their Round 2 playoff series to win the best-of-seven series 4-1.
The T-Birds will play either the Kelowna Rockets or the Victoria Royals for the WHL Western Conference championship. The Rockets lead the Royals 3-2 in their Round 2 playoff series. Game 6 in that series is 5:50 p.m. Sunday in Kelowna. If Victoria wins Game 6, the two teams will play Game 7 Tuesday in Victoria at 7:05 p.m.
Game 1 of the Western Conference final is 7:05 p.m. this Friday at either Kelowna or Victoria.
Quick start
Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 12:16 of the first period on Scott Eansor’s wraparound goal. Donovan Neuls passed the puck from the left corner to Eansor behind the net. Eansor beat Everett goalie Carter Hart at the right post for his fourth goal of the playoffs. Nolan Volcan had the second assist.
The T-Birds took a 2-0 lead at 15:41 of the first on Nick Holowko’s second goal of the playoffs. Alexander True banged the puck up the right boards in the Seattle zone to Cavin Leth. Leth passed the puck to Holowko who came into the Everett zone on a two-on-one with True. Holowko looked at True and snapped a wrist shot over Hart’s glove for the goal.
Everett scored at 10:11 of the second period when Brandon Ralph put back a rebound.
The T-Birds took the two-goal lead back at 11:43 of the second on Ryan Gropp’s second goal of the playoffs. Gropp came down the right wing and passed the puck to Turner Ottenbreit on top of the crease. Ottenbreit got off a shot that Hart stopped. Gropp poked the rebound under the goalie for the goal.
The Silvertips cut the lead back to one goal at 18:49 of the second on a power-play goal from Devon Skoleski.
Everett played with desperation in the third period and the T-Birds had to battle through the period to win and advance.
Seattle outshot Everett 18-4 in the third period and 42-19 in the game.
Seattle goalie Landon Bow made 17 saves on 19 shots to get his eight win of the playoffs.
Hart stopped 39 of 42 shots in the loss.
Looking ahead
The T-Birds host Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference final on Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27. Both games start at 7:05 p.m. Game 3 will be a Director’s Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday game.
Single-game playoff tickets for the series go on sale at noon Tuesday on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center box office is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday game days at noon.
Fans who purchase 10 tickets to Game 4 for $200 will also receive two additional free tickets to the same game. Fans can purchase this playoff group ticket special online or by calling the T-Birds at 253-239-PUCK (7825).
WHL Western Conference championship series
Game 1 Seattle at Kelowna/Victoria, Friday, April 22, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 Seattle at Kelowna/Victoria, Saturday, April 23, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3 Kelowna/Victoria at Seattle, Tuesday, April 26, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 Kelowna/Victoria at Seattle, Wednesday, April 27, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 Seattle at Kelowna/Victoria, Friday, April 29, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 Kelowna/Victoria at Seattle, Sunday, May 1, 5:05 p.m.*
Game 7 Seattle at Kelowna/Victoria, Tuesday, May 3, 7:05 p.m.*
* if necessary
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Eansor 4 (Neuls, Volcan), 12:16. 2, Seattle, Holowko 2 (Leth, True), 15:41. Penalties – No penalties.
Second period – 3, Everett, Ralph 4 (Davis, Fonteyne), 10:11. 4, Seattle, Gropp 2 (Ottenbreit, Wedman), 11:43. 5, Everett, Skoleski 1 (Khomenko, Fonteyne), 18:49 (pp). Penalties – Smith, Sea (holding), :32. Leedahl, Evt (tripping), 5:00. Leth, Sea (tripping), 7:27. Barzal, Sea (high-sticking), 17:04. Neuls, Sea (goaltender interference), 20:00.
Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (boarding), 11:44. Skrumeda, Evt (embellishment), 11:44. Ralph, Evt (cross checking), 16:13. Gropp, Sea (slashing), 18:13. Neuls, Sea (delay of game), 19:57.
Shots on goal – Seattle 15-9-18 42, Everett 3-12-4 19. Goalies – Seattle, Bow 19 shots-17 saves (8-1); Everett, Hart 42-39 (2-4). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Everett 1-6. A – 4,339. Referees – Reagan Vetter, Mike Campbell. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Ron Dietterle.
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