By Mike Caccioppoli

(39-15-1-2) Tri-City Americans 5, (20-35-1-1) Seattle Thunderbirds 2

 

We need points. It felt like we came out ok in the first 10 minutes then we just didn't keep it up. They raised their level and we didn't raise ours.

Yes it's disappointing. It's disappointing whenever you don't win and more guys need to give us more effort than they did tonight....Head Coach Steve Konowalchuk

 

KENT- The Thunderbirds couldn't take advantage of a banged up Americans team as they allow 53 shots including 45 in the first two periods and lose 5-2. A late comeback fell short.

 

The Birds were doing a nice job of controlling play early with a few good scoring chances however it was the Americans that would strike first when Adam Hughesman notched his 33rd goal of the season at 9:41 of the first period.

The Ams went up 2-0 with 38 seconds left in the period. Connor Rankin scored his 15th goal of the season.

The Birds were down 2-0 after 20 minutes and were being outshot 23-14. After the Americans scored their first goal Seattle stopped playing defense and allowed the Americans to play their speed game and they took over.

The Americans got their 40th shot of the game with 3:47 left in the second period.

Seattle had two full and one partial power play chance in the period and could not convert.

With 11 seconds left the Ams went up 3-0. Rankin (16) beat Calvin Pickard from about 50 feet out. Pickard got a good piece of the puck it trickled past him and into the net.

Along with the 3-0 deficit the Birds were being outshot 45-24.

The Americans would get their 50th shot with 15:58 left in the third period and it would also be their 4th goal with Brendan Shinnimin scoring his 30th goal of the season. Seattle was down 4-0.

Seattle thought they had a power play goal but it was waived off and not officially reviewed. The call was no goal because the puck went into the net due to "contact." The only contact the replay showed was with a stick (see more in the Q and A below).

Seattle got on the board at 13:42 to make it a 4-1 game. Brendan Rouse (5) put one past Eric Comrie. Connor Honey and Branden Troock got the assists.

Honey (5) scored at 15:24 and Seattle was down 4-2. Troock and Shea Theodore got the assists.

Seattle had a six on four advantage after going on the power play and then pulling Pickard however they couldn't score and Shinnimin (31) put the puck into the empty net to give the Ams a 5-2 win.

 

Post game Q and A with Head Coach Steve Konowalchuk:

MC: Too little too late at the end with the comeback?

SK: Yes. We came on a little bit at the end but in the first period we were just too casual around the crease. It's something we talked about before the game.

MC: In the first two periods you allowed almost 50 shots on net, obviously not what you want to see.

SK: No. Not good enough defensively that's for sure. We were showing them too much respect, not taking away time and space.

MC: Isn't being physical and slowing a team down one of the ways you take away time and space?

SK: You have to. We weren't physical enough to a man tonight that's for sure.

MC: At this point in the season I'm guessing you can't look at any moral victories such as 'we didn't give up' simply because you need points.

SK: We need points. It felt like we came out ok in the first 10 minutes then we just didn't keep it up. They raised their level and we didn't raise ours.

MC: It seemed as though that all started after their first goal, them taking control.

SK: They came out and were feeling things out a bit and as the game went on we relaxed physically and they started to out skate us.

MC: Another thing you want to see at this point in the season is your team come out and play a strong 60 minutes. Are you disappointed that they didn't do that?

SK: Yes it's disappointing. It's disappointing whenever you don't win and more guys need to give us more effort than they did tonight.

MC: You are getting scoring from Honey but I'm sure you want to see other guys, especially the older guys pitch in.

SK: Yes. I mean good for him. He gets dirty.. he goes into those dirty areas. He knows where to jump in and he battles and competes. Those aren't always pretty goals.He's a smart hockey player.

MC: You look back and you have to regret not scoring on several power play chances.

SK: Well we actually did score. That was a bad non call (when the goal was waived off).

MC: That's my next question. That was a big call especially after you get back to within two goals even though it may not have seemed as big at the time.

SK: You know what, there is more time left. He (the ref) said we made contact with the goalie but clearly our guy was pushed into him. It's not the reason we lost the game but we did score there.

MC: The word they used was "contact" but we didn't know exactly what happened up in the press booth.

SK: The ref said our guy was impeding their goalie. It was 100 percent clear that our guy was hit into the goalie.

MC: What happened with Connor Sanvido?

SK: He wasn't putting in the work we needed so we sent him home.

MC: Why were Brad Deagle and Colin Jacobs scratched?

SK: Deagle is a little banged up and as far as Jacobs is concerned it will just stay within the locker room.

MC: How do you rebound so quickly with the 3 o'clock start tomorrow in Portland?

SK: Well it's all part of being a hockey play and an athlete. You just get back on the horse and you try to muster a better effort.

MC: Do you see the desperation needed from this team right now? With fighting for every point?

SK: Some games. Not every shift tonight that's for sure, by every guy. There are times that we need to be more desperate.

MC: Do you see anything from this team that says they might be tired of losing to these teams (Tri..Port) and maybe want to beat them at some point?

SK: Well they looked that way at the end of the game. You would think you would come a little more pissed off to start the game. After the first 10 minutes we started getting tentative. You have to play with a chip on your shoulder every time.

MC: Is the idea tomorrow to play a physical game?

SK: You have to. You have to play smart. There is a fine line between being physical and running out of position but when there is a time to be physical you have to be.

 

Plus side:

Pickard and Honey. Two of only a few guys who put in a solid 60 minutes tonight. Pickard kept them in the game and Honey helped give them some late life.

 

Minus side:

53 shots against. The Ams had 40 shots before the second period was over. Terrible defense and just not enough effort to keep the Ams talented forwards off the puck.

Can't finish. When it really would have mattered early in the game the Birds had several scoring chances and couldn't find a way to put the puck in the net.

Lack of physical play. I'm sure they were told to be physical against this talented yet small Americans team yet after a decent start they abandoned that game and let Tri use their speed and skill. Way too much time and space allowed for some very skilled forwards.

Which team was banged up? You would think it were the Birds but it was the Ams who were missing some players and had to skate 19 guys while double shifting and playing three lines. Didn't matter though.

No desperation. Where is the heart, the desperation? The Birds are in the final month of the season and need points desperately but too many guys aren't giving their best effort. If they had seven or eight more guys playing like Honey they would be in much better shape.

 

Game Notes:

-F Connor Sanvido was sent home.

-F Colin Jacobs and D Brad Deagle were scratches.

-The Birds drop to 11-17-0-1 at home. They have lost nine of their last 10 home games. They are now 1-7 against Tri after losing the last seven games against them (1-3 home, 0-4 road).

-Calvin Pickard falls to 20-30-1-1. Eric Comrie improves to 17-5-1-1.

 

Thunderbirds second half record: 7-18-1.

 

PLAYOFF CHASE:

7. Seattle...loss tonight..(20 wins..42 points...15 games left)

8. Victoria..win tonight..(18 wins..42 points...14 games left)

9. Everett..loss tonight..(15 wins..39 points..15 games left)

10. Prince George..loss tonight..(18 wins..38 points..16 games left)

 

710Sports.com three stars:

First star: Connor Rankin (two goals, +3 rating)

Second star: Brendan Shinnimin (two goals, assist, +3 rating)

Third star: Connor Honey (goal and assist)

 

The Thunderbirds play Saturday at 3 pm in Portland against the Winterhawks. The action can be heard live at 710Sports.com.

Game summary is on the WHL website.

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mike.caccioppoli@yahoo.com