Updated Feb 21, 2013 - 7:43 pm
Thunderbirds Three Stars of the Week
Seattle captain Luke Lockhart had a big weekend with three goals (photo Seattle Thunderbirds)
By Andrew Eide
Welcome to a new feature on the Thunderbirds blog as we recognize the three best T-Birds players from the previous week. When the three stars are announced at the ShoWare Center the players get a medal and a picture with one of the booster club members. We thought about having the winners of our three stars pose for a picture with Tim and me but let's face it, we both have faces made for writing.
The T-Birds played three of the biggest games of the season this past weekend as the playoff race is heating up. Seattle came out of the weekend with two wins and more importantly, five points. That effort put them two points ahead of Everett, giving Seattle sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference standings. They have a chance to put even more distance between themselves and the Sivlertips this Saturday as they host Everett Saturday night.
Here are the T-Birds Three Stars of the week:
Number one star: Luke Lockhart
Lockhart might get the top nod this week merely for his short-handed game winning overtime goal on Sunday against Vancouver but it turns out that was just one of three big goals he scored on the weekend. He added another short-handed tally in the Friday game with the Giants and picked up both goals in the win on Sunday. The goal on Friday tied the game and both goals on Sunday gave the T-Birds the lead. By definition, big goals.
Not only was he scoring but he played a huge role in Seattle's penalty kill. The T-Birds only allowed one power play goal on 16 attempts this weekend and Lockhart is their key penalty killer. All in all it's hard to say a T-Birds player had a better weekend than the captain.
Number two star: Brandon Glover
After two straight starts by back up Danny Mumaugh, Brandon Glover got back in net and was great over the weekend. He started two games, winning both and only allowed two goals. All in all he faced 50 shots and made 48 big saves in all. If it weren't for Lockhart's heroics he would be an easy first star selection. The timing is ripe for a red hot Glover to lead the T-Birds into the playoffs, this is why they picked him up.
Number three star: Shea Theodore
Seattle's star defenseman had two goals and three points on the weekend and ended up with a +2 rating. He quarterbacked the power play which seems to have picked up some chemistry in the past few games. Theodore now has 15 goals on the year which is a huge improvement over the four he scored in his rookie year last season.
Honorable Mention: Giant cookie throwing banana
Sunday's game at the ShoWare Center was mascot day as various local mascots entertained the crowd with a spirited broom hockey game between periods. Later in the game, during a timeout, they reappeared to throw girl scout cookies into the excited crowd. The guy, or gal, dressed as a giant banana displayed a strong arm flinging boxes to the top rows of the stands. Well done.
Follow Andrew on twitter @andyeide
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Andrew Eide is the new Thunderbirds reporter for 710Sports.com. He attended his first T-Birds game in 1987 and has been hooked on hockey ever since. He also writes about the Canucks, the WHL and NHL draft prospects for The Hockey Writers.
Tim Pigulski is the new Thunderbirds analyst for 710Sports.com. Following an 11-year amateur hockey career, Tim spent two seasons working in the T-Birds' media relations department. He grew up in Pasco, Wash. and attended the UW.
