For the Reporter
The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Everett Silvertips 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night at the ShoWare Center to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.
The T-Birds can clinch it with a victory in Game 4 Friday at Everett’s Comcast Arena. Face-off is 7:35 p.m.
Mathew Barzal scored the overtime winner four minutes into the extra period. Barzal, who had Seattle’s best chance early in the extra time, skated behind the net and out in front, where he threw a spinning shot toward the net. Everett goalie Austin Lotz was unable to find the puck as it bounced through traffic and squeaked in past his right leg to end the game.
Starting the same day he was named the CHL Goaltender of the Week, Taran Kozun made 26 saves in regulation and two saves in overtime to get his third win of the series. Lotz stopped 25 shots for Everett and took the loss.
Scott Eansor scored a pair of goals for the T-Birds, including the equalizer in the third period.
Branden Troock also scored for Seattle.
In the third period, Jaimen Yakubowski passed to Eansor, who was open rushing toward the right faceoff dot. Eansor then beat Lotz with the shot at 4:31, making it 3-3.
With the game still tied, Seattle was given a golden opportunity with their second power play with just 1:52 left in regulation. Everett managed to clear the puck after 40 seconds of pressure.
The T-Birds got right back on the attack, with play stopping only when Lotz was forced to catch the home team’s second shot of the power play. Regulation ran out after that, leaving Seattle with four seconds of power-play time in overtime.
=====
First-round schedule vs. Everett
Game 1 – Seattle 2, vs. Everett 1
Game 2 – vs. Seattle 3, Everett 1
Game 3 – Seattle 4, vs. Everett 3 (OT)
Game 4 – Seattle at Everett Friday, March 28, 7:35 p.m.
Game 5 – Everett at Seattle Saturday, March 29, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6 – Seattle at Everett Monday, March 31, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 7 – Everett at Seattle Wednesday, April 2, 7:05 p.m.*
* if necessary
Playoff tickets are on sale online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Everett, Bajkov 2 (Hayer, Mueller), 5:54 (pp). 2, Seattle, Troock 2 (Lipsbergs, Maxwell), 13:32. 3, Everett, Bajkov 3 (Hayer), 19:00 (pp). Penalties – Elliot, Seattle (interference), 4:08. Smith, Seattle (delay of game), 9:49. Yakubowski, Seattle (double minor- checking from behind), 15:35. Leedahl, Everett (interference), 16:32.
Second period – 4, Seattle, Eansor 1 (Smith), 4:02. 5, Everett, Mueller 1 (Hayer, Winquist), 17:54. Penalties – Hickman, Seattle (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:24. Betker, Everett (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:24. Hickman, Seattle (tripping), 8:50. Winquist, Everett (elbowing), 12:19. Betker, Everett (high-sticking), 14:12.
Third period – 6, Seattle, Eansor 2 (Yakubowski), 4:31. Penalties – Lipsbergs, Seattle (checking to the head), 4:46. Elliot, Seattle (kneeing), 10:00. Kozun, Seattle (unsportsmanlike conduct- served by Maxwell), 10:52. Winquist, Everett (slashing), 10:52. Bench, Everett (too many men- served by Stadnyk), 18:08.
Overtime – 7, Seattle, Barzal 1 (Hickman, Gropp), 3:47. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 13-9-6-1 29, Everett 14-7-8-2 31. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 31 shots-28 saves (3-0); Everett, Lotz 29-25 (0-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Everett 2-7. A – 5,176. Referees – Fraser Lawrence, Steve Papp. Linesmen – Ron Dietterle, Mark Heier.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
