Tipped Off
03-28-2006, 12:26 PM
WHL Playoffs: For shot, T-birds must shoot
By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times
There's no secret to success for the Seattle Thunderbirds in their first round Western Hockey League playoff series with the Portland Winter Hawks.
In the first game, Seattle fired 38 shots and rang up eight goals in an 8-5 win. In the second game, Seattle managed only 18 shots and suffered a 1-0 loss that evened the series at one game apiece.
Game 3 is scheduled for the Rose Garden in Portland tonight with Game 4 there on Friday.
"It was pretty disappointing to get away from something that worked so well for us," Seattle captain Aaron Gagnon said. "After the game we were pretty mad about it. But it's [the] playoffs and all we're thinking about is our next game."
Gagnon admitted that there were far too many attempts that never made it to Portland goaltender Kurtis Mucha.
"Give them credit for a lot of blocked shots, but I know I had a couple that I tried to force and just missed the net," Gagnon said. "Those are the ones you have to bear down on and get them on goal."
Seattle coach Rob Sumner didn't need much time to analyze the tapes or consider a change in strategy.
"We know exactly what happened and what we need to do," Sumner said. "If you throw enough shots at the net, one will go in. You don't win many games with only 18 shots on net."
Seattle was particularly ineffective on the power play, following a 4-for-10 performance by going 0 for 6 and not even registering shots.
"We had a shot mentality in the first game," Gagnon said. "In the second game, we moved the puck around too much and we weren't moving it too well."
Mucha, a rookie, bounced back from allowing eight goals to essentially make it a best-of-five series.
"It's going to be a long series so you just have to keep going after every loss you take," Mucha said. "Every night is a different story."
Mucha was quick to credit the defense in front of him, saying that made the difference.
"They cleared the net a lot better so that I could see pucks and that made a huge difference," Mucha said. "We were all a lot more aggressive."
Another key for Portland was getting back star center Brandon Dubinsky.
With nine minutes left in Friday's opener, Dubinsky threw down his glove and stick after injuring his wrist and left the ice with the Winter Hawks trailing 6-5.
He didn't return as the T-birds poured it on, but had an assist on the only goal of the game Saturday.
Game 5 of the series will be played at KeyArena on Saturday.
Notes
• After losing all five games in Everett during the regular season and the first-round opener 4-0, the Tri-City Americans beat the Everett Silvertips 2-1 to send their first round playoff series to Kennewick tied at 1-1.
• Games 3 and 4 will be played at the Toyota Center tonight and Wednesday. Game 5 is Friday in Everett.
• Everett goaltender Leland Irving has allowed two goals in the two games and leads the WHL with a 96.2 save percentage.
Seattle vs. Portland
First-round WHL playoff series:
Date Site / score Time
Friday Seattle 8, Portland 5
Saturday Portland 1, Seattle 0
Tonight At Portland 7 p.m.
Friday At Portland 7 p.m.
Saturday At Seattle 7:05 p.m.
April 4 At Portland* 7 p.m.
April 5 At Seattle* 7:05 p.m.
*If necessary
Everett vs. Tri-City
First-round WHL playoff series:
Date Site / score Time
Friday Everett 4, Tri-City 0
Saturday Tri-City 2, Everett 1
Tonight At Tri-City 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday At Tri-City 7:05 p.m.
Friday At Everett 7:05 p.m.
Saturday At Tri-City* 7:05 p.m.
April 4 At Everett* 7:05 p.m.
*If necessary
By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times
There's no secret to success for the Seattle Thunderbirds in their first round Western Hockey League playoff series with the Portland Winter Hawks.
In the first game, Seattle fired 38 shots and rang up eight goals in an 8-5 win. In the second game, Seattle managed only 18 shots and suffered a 1-0 loss that evened the series at one game apiece.
Game 3 is scheduled for the Rose Garden in Portland tonight with Game 4 there on Friday.
"It was pretty disappointing to get away from something that worked so well for us," Seattle captain Aaron Gagnon said. "After the game we were pretty mad about it. But it's [the] playoffs and all we're thinking about is our next game."
Gagnon admitted that there were far too many attempts that never made it to Portland goaltender Kurtis Mucha.
"Give them credit for a lot of blocked shots, but I know I had a couple that I tried to force and just missed the net," Gagnon said. "Those are the ones you have to bear down on and get them on goal."
Seattle coach Rob Sumner didn't need much time to analyze the tapes or consider a change in strategy.
"We know exactly what happened and what we need to do," Sumner said. "If you throw enough shots at the net, one will go in. You don't win many games with only 18 shots on net."
Seattle was particularly ineffective on the power play, following a 4-for-10 performance by going 0 for 6 and not even registering shots.
"We had a shot mentality in the first game," Gagnon said. "In the second game, we moved the puck around too much and we weren't moving it too well."
Mucha, a rookie, bounced back from allowing eight goals to essentially make it a best-of-five series.
"It's going to be a long series so you just have to keep going after every loss you take," Mucha said. "Every night is a different story."
Mucha was quick to credit the defense in front of him, saying that made the difference.
"They cleared the net a lot better so that I could see pucks and that made a huge difference," Mucha said. "We were all a lot more aggressive."
Another key for Portland was getting back star center Brandon Dubinsky.
With nine minutes left in Friday's opener, Dubinsky threw down his glove and stick after injuring his wrist and left the ice with the Winter Hawks trailing 6-5.
He didn't return as the T-birds poured it on, but had an assist on the only goal of the game Saturday.
Game 5 of the series will be played at KeyArena on Saturday.
Notes
• After losing all five games in Everett during the regular season and the first-round opener 4-0, the Tri-City Americans beat the Everett Silvertips 2-1 to send their first round playoff series to Kennewick tied at 1-1.
• Games 3 and 4 will be played at the Toyota Center tonight and Wednesday. Game 5 is Friday in Everett.
• Everett goaltender Leland Irving has allowed two goals in the two games and leads the WHL with a 96.2 save percentage.
Seattle vs. Portland
First-round WHL playoff series:
Date Site / score Time
Friday Seattle 8, Portland 5
Saturday Portland 1, Seattle 0
Tonight At Portland 7 p.m.
Friday At Portland 7 p.m.
Saturday At Seattle 7:05 p.m.
April 4 At Portland* 7 p.m.
April 5 At Seattle* 7:05 p.m.
*If necessary
Everett vs. Tri-City
First-round WHL playoff series:
Date Site / score Time
Friday Everett 4, Tri-City 0
Saturday Tri-City 2, Everett 1
Tonight At Tri-City 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday At Tri-City 7:05 p.m.
Friday At Everett 7:05 p.m.
Saturday At Tri-City* 7:05 p.m.
April 4 At Everett* 7:05 p.m.
*If necessary