I'm scoreboard watching from home tonight... I see the Tbirds have a 1-0 lead.
Use the comments here to give your thoughts on what happens at the game tonight.
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1.31.2009
1.30.2009
Seattle picks up rare win in Everett
The Seattle-Everett rivalry has been mostly dominated by the home team over the (short) years.... but tonight the Tbirds pick up a big road win at the Comcast Arena in a game that allows Seattle to pull within one point of the Silvertips (Everett has one game in hand).
Greg Scott was the best player on the ice tonight picking up two goals, including a short handed insurance marker in the 2nd period after the Silvertips had cut the lead down to 2-1.
Jacob DeSerres was huge down the stretch making big save after big save in the closing minutes and Seattle gets out of Cowbell Central with the 3-1 win.
Seattle returns home tonight to prepare for a match-up with the dangerous Kelowna Rockets. Kelowna hung a 10 spot on the same Medicine Hat team we saw beat Seattle at home earlier in the week. I would be eager to see what this Kelowna team looks like... but unfortunately I have to miss the game tomorrow night.
I will throw up a game thread tomorrow evening and I encourage everyone to throw in a comment on how they feel the game goes.
Greg Scott was the best player on the ice tonight picking up two goals, including a short handed insurance marker in the 2nd period after the Silvertips had cut the lead down to 2-1.
Jacob DeSerres was huge down the stretch making big save after big save in the closing minutes and Seattle gets out of Cowbell Central with the 3-1 win.
Seattle returns home tonight to prepare for a match-up with the dangerous Kelowna Rockets. Kelowna hung a 10 spot on the same Medicine Hat team we saw beat Seattle at home earlier in the week. I would be eager to see what this Kelowna team looks like... but unfortunately I have to miss the game tomorrow night.
I will throw up a game thread tomorrow evening and I encourage everyone to throw in a comment on how they feel the game goes.
1.29.2009
Seattle drops another one...
It just seems like every time this team comes close to really breaking through with a good stretch of hockey, they take a step backwards and now have lost 4 of 5 games after the thrilling come from behind victory over Tri-City at home.
I would have to think based on the way they are playing that Seattle is going to have a hard time catching Kamloops for the 5th place spot in the Western Conference as they now sit 7 point back with only 2 games in hand. A win at home last week and a win last night and Seattle would now be 1 point ahead of Kamloops with 2 games in hand.
Like I have said previously... this just shows you how truly important these games are and especially the head to head games. Seattle has another one of those games Friday in Everett (aka the house of horrors) with a chance for a 4 point swing in the race to catch Everett for 6th.
Game stories can be found by Gregg Drinnan here and here.
I would have to think based on the way they are playing that Seattle is going to have a hard time catching Kamloops for the 5th place spot in the Western Conference as they now sit 7 point back with only 2 games in hand. A win at home last week and a win last night and Seattle would now be 1 point ahead of Kamloops with 2 games in hand.
Like I have said previously... this just shows you how truly important these games are and especially the head to head games. Seattle has another one of those games Friday in Everett (aka the house of horrors) with a chance for a 4 point swing in the race to catch Everett for 6th.
Game stories can be found by Gregg Drinnan here and here.
1.28.2009
Big news for Helenius
Riku Helenius, who played last year for the Tbirds appears to be headed to Tampa Bay to backup Mike Smith in the big time.
Helenius has been playing for the AHL Norfolk Admirals. With Olaf Kolzig being injured and now out for the season and Norfolk goaltender Kari Ramo being slapped with a 6 game suspension, it appears that Riku will be recalled immediately to be ready for the Lightning's game tomorrow night.
Blog entry from the "The Lightning Insider" can be found here.
Helenius has played in only one game so far for the Admirals making 11 stops on 12 shots in a relief appearance. In 11 games between the August Lynx and the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL, Riku posted a 4-5-2 record with a 3.80 GAA and a 89.6% Save Percentage.
As a side note... is it that difficult for the hockey websites of the world to start automatically calculating and listing GAA and Save % so that I don't have to waste time doing it on my own?
Helenius has been playing for the AHL Norfolk Admirals. With Olaf Kolzig being injured and now out for the season and Norfolk goaltender Kari Ramo being slapped with a 6 game suspension, it appears that Riku will be recalled immediately to be ready for the Lightning's game tomorrow night.
Blog entry from the "The Lightning Insider" can be found here.
Helenius has played in only one game so far for the Admirals making 11 stops on 12 shots in a relief appearance. In 11 games between the August Lynx and the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL, Riku posted a 4-5-2 record with a 3.80 GAA and a 89.6% Save Percentage.
As a side note... is it that difficult for the hockey websites of the world to start automatically calculating and listing GAA and Save % so that I don't have to waste time doing it on my own?
Wells suspended two games...
Confirmation from the league website that Charles Wells has been suspended 3 games for his CFB Major penalty last Friday against the Spokane Chiefs.
Couple of observations about this...
I think the suspension is ridiculous but is not unexpected. Wells had already sat out 2 games and will only need to sit out tonight's game against Kamloops to complete the suspension.
Because the player in question (Ryan Letts) from Spokane was legitimately injured by the play I think the league really didn't have a choice but to sit Wells down for a few games. While I disagreed with the initial penalty and I disagree with the suspension, chances are that Letts will wind up sitting out more games than Wells... so I can understand where a 3 game suspension isn't that bad when compared to the games Letts might miss.
I also think the length of the suspension is questionable when compared to the 3 game suspension that Kyle Beach also just received from the league. Beach has been suspended based on "action" at the end of a recent game against Red Deer where he reportedly shot a puck into the crowd at the end of the game and wound up injuring a fan. The point of this is NOT to bash Kyle Beach and make this a discussion about him. Quite frankly, I didn't see what he did so I can't sit here and say "oh typical Beach"... but the league clearly decided he did something wrong in order for him to be tagged with a 3 gamer.
The point of this is.... If the league is essentially stating that either Beach intentionally shot a puck into the crowd or at the acted with poor judgement, I find it hard to believe that what Wells did is an equally offensive crime.
Something to debate I suppose....
EDIT: Also... the WHL weekly update has Lindsay Nielsen is out only 2 weeks with David Richard out 2-4 weeks. That seems like pretty good news to me on Nielsen
Couple of observations about this...
I think the suspension is ridiculous but is not unexpected. Wells had already sat out 2 games and will only need to sit out tonight's game against Kamloops to complete the suspension.
Because the player in question (Ryan Letts) from Spokane was legitimately injured by the play I think the league really didn't have a choice but to sit Wells down for a few games. While I disagreed with the initial penalty and I disagree with the suspension, chances are that Letts will wind up sitting out more games than Wells... so I can understand where a 3 game suspension isn't that bad when compared to the games Letts might miss.
I also think the length of the suspension is questionable when compared to the 3 game suspension that Kyle Beach also just received from the league. Beach has been suspended based on "action" at the end of a recent game against Red Deer where he reportedly shot a puck into the crowd at the end of the game and wound up injuring a fan. The point of this is NOT to bash Kyle Beach and make this a discussion about him. Quite frankly, I didn't see what he did so I can't sit here and say "oh typical Beach"... but the league clearly decided he did something wrong in order for him to be tagged with a 3 gamer.
The point of this is.... If the league is essentially stating that either Beach intentionally shot a puck into the crowd or at the acted with poor judgement, I find it hard to believe that what Wells did is an equally offensive crime.
Something to debate I suppose....
EDIT: Also... the WHL weekly update has Lindsay Nielsen is out only 2 weeks with David Richard out 2-4 weeks. That seems like pretty good news to me on Nielsen
1.27.2009
Weird night...
So... I left the ShoWare Center at the end of the first period to go play my own game down the street at the Kent Valley Ice Centre and thought to myself, "I'm kind of glad I'm leaving this crap... I don't think I want to see the rest of that game."
Only problem was... my team got smoked 6-1 and apparently the Tbirds made a spirited comeback in the final two periods to almost pull the game tied.
I don't know guys and gals... I thought the team just absolutely sucked in the first period but without seeing the second and the third period it's pretty hard for me to make an overall judgement on the entire night. What do you guys think?
As I type... the Birds are on the bus headed to Kamloops for a pretty big game against the Blazers who will be ready and waiting for them.
Only problem was... my team got smoked 6-1 and apparently the Tbirds made a spirited comeback in the final two periods to almost pull the game tied.
I don't know guys and gals... I thought the team just absolutely sucked in the first period but without seeing the second and the third period it's pretty hard for me to make an overall judgement on the entire night. What do you guys think?
As I type... the Birds are on the bus headed to Kamloops for a pretty big game against the Blazers who will be ready and waiting for them.
Moller Update
Don't get too excited... I don't know anything yet... and you guys are likely to hear from the Thunderbirds about Moller coming back before I do.
Rich Hammond has reported today on his blog that Moller has been ruled OUT of the Kings next game on Thursday. I've seen a few people posting on the message boards that since Moller has rejoined the Kings and has been practicing with them that he is somehow not going to be sent back to Seattle.
I contend that it would be enormously premature to predict what will happen based on that. I have suspected all along that the Kings would likely wait until he is healthy, activate him for a game or two or perhaps even a small handful to determine where he is at and where they are at.
Moller has played in 30 games with the Kings this season averaging right around 13.5 minutes of ice time per game.... but in his first 15 games he was averaging 14.2 minutes and in the past 15 he has been playing about 12.7 minutes per game and over the last 4 games before leaving for the WJC he was getting only 10.7 minutes per game.
If Moller returns to the Kings lineup on Saturday, watch for the ice time minutes. If the ice time is around 15 or above... I think the chances of him coming back take a serious hit. If they below 15 and closer to 10 or perhaps lower... I would seriously look for Los Angeles to be sending him to Seattle by the end of next week.... just a hunch.
Rich Hammond has reported today on his blog that Moller has been ruled OUT of the Kings next game on Thursday. I've seen a few people posting on the message boards that since Moller has rejoined the Kings and has been practicing with them that he is somehow not going to be sent back to Seattle.
I contend that it would be enormously premature to predict what will happen based on that. I have suspected all along that the Kings would likely wait until he is healthy, activate him for a game or two or perhaps even a small handful to determine where he is at and where they are at.
Moller has played in 30 games with the Kings this season averaging right around 13.5 minutes of ice time per game.... but in his first 15 games he was averaging 14.2 minutes and in the past 15 he has been playing about 12.7 minutes per game and over the last 4 games before leaving for the WJC he was getting only 10.7 minutes per game.
If Moller returns to the Kings lineup on Saturday, watch for the ice time minutes. If the ice time is around 15 or above... I think the chances of him coming back take a serious hit. If they below 15 and closer to 10 or perhaps lower... I would seriously look for Los Angeles to be sending him to Seattle by the end of next week.... just a hunch.
Tuesday vs. Medicine Hat
Nice article this morning on Thomas Hickey in the Seattle Times. I love the fact that the article is the lead story on the Sports page but you know if that is the case it must be a real slow news day for the Times.
Either way, it's a nice article by Jim Riley and can be found here.
Tough week for the Tbirds coming up with a home game tonight against a pretty decent Tigers team who sits 4th in the Eastern Conference, but plays a lot tougher at home. I have counted this as a half win for the Tbirds so getting 1 point would be expected and 2 points would actually be a small bonus, but these are the types of games you have to have down the stretch.
Seattle then immediately leaves the ShoWare Center and heads to Kamloops to play the Blazers tomorrow night in what will surely be a very difficult game to win as the Blazers will be home, rested and waiting for the Tbirds to arrive. Friday the Tbirds travel to Everett where they have not played well all season before returning home to play a dangerous Kelowna team while playing their 4th game in 5 nights.
I hate to even mention it... but this could very quickly turn into a 4 loss week if Seattle isn't careful. 10 points behind Kelowna, having played one more game than the Rockets... these games are all very important if Seattle wants any shot as the 4th or 5th spots.
Either way, it's a nice article by Jim Riley and can be found here.
Tough week for the Tbirds coming up with a home game tonight against a pretty decent Tigers team who sits 4th in the Eastern Conference, but plays a lot tougher at home. I have counted this as a half win for the Tbirds so getting 1 point would be expected and 2 points would actually be a small bonus, but these are the types of games you have to have down the stretch.
Seattle then immediately leaves the ShoWare Center and heads to Kamloops to play the Blazers tomorrow night in what will surely be a very difficult game to win as the Blazers will be home, rested and waiting for the Tbirds to arrive. Friday the Tbirds travel to Everett where they have not played well all season before returning home to play a dangerous Kelowna team while playing their 4th game in 5 nights.
I hate to even mention it... but this could very quickly turn into a 4 loss week if Seattle isn't careful. 10 points behind Kelowna, having played one more game than the Rockets... these games are all very important if Seattle wants any shot as the 4th or 5th spots.
1.24.2009
A win is a win... is a win...
No matter how you look at it.... Seattle earned 2 points tonight. It might not have been the worst game in the world and it certainly wasn't the best game in the world, but the Tbirds picked up 2 big points in Portland's first ever trip to the ShoWare Center.
Seattle gets two power play goals tonight from Greg Scott and Jim O'Brien adds an empty net goal as the TBirds pick up the 3-1 victory over the Winterhawks tonight at the Sho.
Seattle found themselves down 1-0 as a funky bounce off the ShoWare Center boards caught Calvin Pickard out of position and Max Brandl buried it for the early lead.
Seattle got the tying goal 6 minutes later when Greg Scott fired a rocket top shelf over the shoulder of Kurtis Mucha before Scott chipped another puck past Mucha 4 minutes later on another power play to give Seattle the lead it would never relinquish.
Scott finished the night with an assist on the empty net goal by O'Brien and earned the first star of the game.
Interesting to see tonight both Sena Acolatse at forward, as we had previously seen, and now rookie Erik Fleming playing a little up front tonight as well.
Calvin Pickard picks up the win tonight with 25 saves on 26 shots. Pickard looked a little rusty and a little shaky at times tonight but also looked quite solid at other times... probably not a surprise on both points.
Seattle is back in action Tuesday night as they host the Medicine Hat Tigers at the ShoWare Center. I have a game that night... so you guys are on your own for the report that night. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Seattle gets two power play goals tonight from Greg Scott and Jim O'Brien adds an empty net goal as the TBirds pick up the 3-1 victory over the Winterhawks tonight at the Sho.
Seattle found themselves down 1-0 as a funky bounce off the ShoWare Center boards caught Calvin Pickard out of position and Max Brandl buried it for the early lead.
Seattle got the tying goal 6 minutes later when Greg Scott fired a rocket top shelf over the shoulder of Kurtis Mucha before Scott chipped another puck past Mucha 4 minutes later on another power play to give Seattle the lead it would never relinquish.
Scott finished the night with an assist on the empty net goal by O'Brien and earned the first star of the game.
Interesting to see tonight both Sena Acolatse at forward, as we had previously seen, and now rookie Erik Fleming playing a little up front tonight as well.
Calvin Pickard picks up the win tonight with 25 saves on 26 shots. Pickard looked a little rusty and a little shaky at times tonight but also looked quite solid at other times... probably not a surprise on both points.
Seattle is back in action Tuesday night as they host the Medicine Hat Tigers at the ShoWare Center. I have a game that night... so you guys are on your own for the report that night. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Spokane squeezes past Tbirds 3-1
Another frustrating night for the Tbirds and you can pretty much say goodbye to the Chiefs as I will go ahead and say right now they won't catch them.
Seattle was done in by a questionable 5 minute CFB major handed out to Charles Wells in the 3rd period. Spokane went on to score once on the 5 minute power play before Drayson Bowman dropped a pretty empty net goal from his own zone to give Spokane the 3-1 win.
The major was an extremely tough call and my hope is that Wells is not suspended for the "hit". You never want to see a player get hurt and the check did result in the Spokane player being helped to the locker room and that was likely the reason why Referee Derek Zalaski chose the 5 minute variety. Honestly, I thought Wells did nothing more than bump him and it was only the separation from the boards that created the injury and thus the 5 minute major.
Those are the breaks and last night the Chiefs took advantage and it ended up being the difference in the game.
Thomas Hickey had another great game for the Tbirds notching their only goal while logging about 4 minutes of ice time during the 5 minute power play. In the end... it wasn't quite enough.
Seattle's effort was there the intensity, for the most part, was there... The hitting was down from the past two games and the team seems too easily to lose the focus of taking the body and being as physical as possible with their opponents. Seattle must get back to the physical game they showed last weekend.
They also have to be opportunistic. Bowman scored on a semi-breakaway last night to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead... which was a nearly identical breakaway to the one Jim O'Brien had in the first minute of the game and was stopped by Dustin Tokarski. Tbirds have to find a way to capitalize on their opportunities.
Tbirds are back in action tonight looking to bounce back against the Portland Winterhawks who make their first trip to the ShoWare Center.
Seattle was done in by a questionable 5 minute CFB major handed out to Charles Wells in the 3rd period. Spokane went on to score once on the 5 minute power play before Drayson Bowman dropped a pretty empty net goal from his own zone to give Spokane the 3-1 win.
The major was an extremely tough call and my hope is that Wells is not suspended for the "hit". You never want to see a player get hurt and the check did result in the Spokane player being helped to the locker room and that was likely the reason why Referee Derek Zalaski chose the 5 minute variety. Honestly, I thought Wells did nothing more than bump him and it was only the separation from the boards that created the injury and thus the 5 minute major.
Those are the breaks and last night the Chiefs took advantage and it ended up being the difference in the game.
Thomas Hickey had another great game for the Tbirds notching their only goal while logging about 4 minutes of ice time during the 5 minute power play. In the end... it wasn't quite enough.
Seattle's effort was there the intensity, for the most part, was there... The hitting was down from the past two games and the team seems too easily to lose the focus of taking the body and being as physical as possible with their opponents. Seattle must get back to the physical game they showed last weekend.
They also have to be opportunistic. Bowman scored on a semi-breakaway last night to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead... which was a nearly identical breakaway to the one Jim O'Brien had in the first minute of the game and was stopped by Dustin Tokarski. Tbirds have to find a way to capitalize on their opportunities.
Tbirds are back in action tonight looking to bounce back against the Portland Winterhawks who make their first trip to the ShoWare Center.
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