Jeremy Boyer had three goals and an assist and Devon LeBlanc had a goal and four assists to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 10-0 victory over the Everett Silvertips in front of 5,018 at ShoWare Center Sunday night.
Kyle Jahraus made his first start of the season in goal for the T-Birds and made 27 saves to get the shutout and his first win of the season.
This was the regular season finale for the T-Birds, who finish the season with 35-32-1-4 record.
The T-Birds finished fifth in the Western Conference Playoff standings and as a result will play the team that finishes fourth in the Conference in the first round. The fourth place team will be either the Kelowna Rockets or the Spokane Chiefs. Kelowna has one game remaining, against the Chiefs on Monday, while the Chiefs have two games remaining. The Chiefs will finish out the season against the Tri-City Americans on Tuesday. The Rockets are in third place, one point ahead of the Chiefs.
The T-Birds will play Games 3 and 4 of the first round at ShoWare Center on March 24 and March 25. Both games are at 7:05 p.m.
Single-game playoff tickets can be purchased at the ShoWare Center box office or online at the www.seattlethunderbirds.com
The T-Birds took a 1-0 lead at 8:14 of the first period on the first career WHL goal by Stefan Warg. Devon LeBlanc sent the puck into the left corner where Chris Cloud got to it. Cloud saw Warg at the right point pinching down the slot. Cloud hit Warg with a hard pass and Warg beat Everett goalie Kent Simpson with a quick snap shot over the blocker.
Seattle went up 2-0 at 18:01 of the first just after a power play ended. Luke Lockhart sent the puck from the left corner up the wall to Wells who sent it right back. Lockhart carried the puck to the net and swept the puck past Simpson’s left pad for his fifth goal of the year.
LeBlanc put the T-Birds up 3-0 at 19:04 of the first with an unassisted goal. LeBlanc took control of a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated up ice. He crossed the Everett blue line and skated into the left circle. LeBlanc put a slap shot on goal that Simpson got a piece of but couldn’t stop. The puck went over the goalie’s left shoulder and into the back of the net.
Seattle outshot Everett 16-5 in the first period.
Jeremy Boyer put the T-Birds up 4-0 48 seconds into the second period. Greg Scott sent the puck to Jeremy Schappert at the right point. Schappert put a slap shot on goal with Boyer standing in front of Simpson. Boyer tipped Schappert’s shot and the puck went over Simpson’s glove for his 19th goal of the year.
David Richard made it a 5-0 T-Birds lead when he scored at 1:39 of the second. LeBlanc found Richard behind the Everett defense with a pass. Richard came in alone on Simpson and beat the Everett goalie with a quick move left and a backhand shot high for his 10th goal of the year.
Seattle went in front 6-0 at 9:58 of the second on Boyer’s 20th goal of the year. Scott stole the puck from an Everett player heading up the left boards. Scott turned back to the left corner and then centered the puck to Boyer in front of Everett’s net. Boyer redirected Scott’s pass over Simpson’s glove for his second goal of the night.
Seattle outshot Everett 11-7 in the second period and led 27-12 in total shots after two periods.
The T-Birds took a 7-0 lead at 3:26 of the third period on a power-play goal by Brad Haber. Boyer and Jonathan Parker worked the puck out of the right corner to Haber in the high slot. Haber put a slap shot on goal that Simpson got a piece of but the puck trickled under the goalie.
Schappert scored 20 seconds after Haber’s goal to make it an 8-0 lead. David Richard had the only assist on the goal.
Boyer completed the hat trick at 11:47 of the third when he scored just after he came out of the penalty box. Boyer beat Simpson with a slap shot from the left circle off an assist from LeBlanc.
Chris Cloud scored the T-Birds’ 10th goal of the game at 13:14 of the third. Richard and LeBlanc had assists on the goal.
Seattle outshot Everett 17-15 in the third period and 44-27 in the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Warg 1 (Cloud, LeBlanc), 8:14. 2, Seattle, Lockhart 5 (Wells), 18:01. 3, Seattle, LeBlanc 14, 19:04. Penalties – Ellington, Evt (interference), 12:19. Bartek, Evt (cross checking), 15:58.
Second period – 4, Seattle, Boyer 19 (Schappert, Scott), ;48. 5, Seattle, Richard 10 (LeBlanc), 1:39. 6, Seattle. Boyer 20 (Scott), 9:58. Penalties – Lund, Sea (game misconduct), 2:14. Elyniuk, Evt (major-fighting), 2:14. Ellington, Evt (double minor-roughing), 2:14. Fleming, Sea (major- fighting), 2:14. Burt, Evt (elbowing), 16:18. Acolatse, Sea (cross checking), 18:47.
Third period – 7, Seattle, Haber 2 (Boyer, Parker), 3:26 (pp). 8, Seattle, Schappert 3 (Richard), 3:46. 9, Seattle, Boyer 21 (LeBlanc), 11:47. 10, Seattle, Cloud 15 (Richard, LeBlanc), 13:14. Penalties – Warg, Sea (roughing), 1:29. Abney, Evt (roughing), 1:29. Bartek, Evt (hooking), 2:23. Van de Velde, Evt (high-sticking), 4:26. Boyer, Sea (interference), 9:36. Cloud, Sea (roughing, double minor-butt ending), 14:52. Tochkin, Evt (roughing), 14:52.
Shots on goal – Seattle 16-11-17 44. Everett 5- 7-15 27. Goalies – Seattle, Jahraus 27 shots- 27 saves (1-0-0-0); Everett, Simpson 44-34 (8-11-3-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-7; Everett 0-4. A – 5,018. Referee – Trevor Hanson, Colby Smith. Linesmen – Clayton Richardson, Zach Brooks.
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