Reporter staff
The Seattle Thunderbirds are expected to be without two of their top players when they open the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs against the arch-rival Everett Silvertips.
Right wing Keegan Kolesar will serve the second game of a two-game suspension when the T-Birds play Everett in the opener at 7:35 p.m. Friday at the ShoWare Center. League officials disciplined Kolesar for a hit against Prince George in game three of the first-round series. Seattle swept the series 4-0. Kolesar has 30 goals and 31 assists.
Left wing Ryan Gropp is expected to miss the game with an upper body injury, according to a report by 710 ESPN Seattle. Gropp has 34 goals and 36 assists to rank second on the T-Birds in scoring behind Mathew Barzal (27 goals, 61 assists).
In addition to Barzal, Seattle will be led by standout Landon Bow, who was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for March. Bow had a 11-0-0 record in the month, including the four postseason wins over Prince George. He had two shutouts and a 1.41 goals against average in the 11 games. He held opponents to two goals or fewer in nine of the games.
Everett took six of the 10 games against the T-Birds in the regular season but Seattle won the last three. The winner of the series advances to Round 3 to play the winner of the Victoria-Kelowna series.
For playoff tickets, go to seattlethunderbirds.com
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Playoff schedule:
Game 1: Friday, April 8, 7:35 p.m., ShoWare Center.
Game 2: Sunday, April 10, 5:05 p.m., ShoWare Center.
Games 3: Wednesday, April 13, 7:05 p.m., Xfinity Arena
Game 4: Friday, April 15, 7:35 p.m., Xfinity Arena
*Game 5: Saturday, April 16, 7:05 p.m., ShoWare Center
*Game 6: Monday, April 18, 7:05 p.m., Xfinity Arena
*Game 7: Tuesday, April 19, 7:05 p.m., ShoWare Center
* If necessary
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