Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002177139_whlnotes11.html

Notebook: Revived defense should help erase losing skid

By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times

The Seattle Thunderbirds are disappointed, but hardly devastated. Losers of four in a row and seven of their last 10, the Thunderbirds have watched their lead in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League shrink to 11 points over the Everett Silvertips.

Even with the detour, the Thunderbirds are 34-18-0-1 and can pad their cushion over Everett when the rivals meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow at KeyArena. Turnovers and defensive lapses have been the main problems during the skid, but after allowing just 30 shots in their last two games, Seattle coach Rob Sumner believes the superb team defense that characterized the Thunderbirds while they built their division lead is close to returning.

"We had to fix a couple of things in our own end because we were giving up way too much in a couple of games," Sumner said. "Now that we've addressed that, the next logical step is to get that aggressiveness back." In fact, considering the way Seattle has played, Sumner is encouraged that nearly all the losses were close.

"We feel we're not playing at the top of our game, and yet in these recent losses we were right there," Sumner said. "They've been close games, and we feel we can play much better." Seattle captain Tyler Metcalfe thinks the Thunderbirds are back in a playoff race and will have to be ready to play down the stretch.

"We know there won't be a single easy game for the rest of the season," Metcalfe said. "Maybe with the first half we had we did think things were a little too easy out there. There's not a single team in this league that is awful, and if you don't work hard any team can knock the doors off you pretty easily."

Where are the goals?

Scoring is down and shutouts are up in the WHL this season. An average of 5.46 goals have been scored in games, the fewest ever. The record was set last season when teams averaged 5.54 goals a game.

There have already been 108 shutouts in the WHL, breaking the season record of 107 set last year. At the current pace, there will be 142 this year. Everett's defense leads the way with 11 shutouts, and Seattle, Kelowna and Medicine Hat all have 10.

Goaltenders Mike Wall of Everett and Bryan Bridges of Seattle are tied for the individual lead with nine shutouts.




Note

• Forward Chris Durand and defenseman Zack FitzGerald will both play tomorrow against Everett. Both missed Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Spokane while serving league-imposed one-game suspensions.