Thunderbirds extend winless streak to eight despite standout performance in net from Ratzlaff

By Callaghan Bluechel, edited by Charles Hamaker

Everett, WA – The Seattle Thunderbirds lost 4-2 on Saturday, once again falling in a hole early and failing to find a way out in time. Even though goaltender Scott Ratzlaff saved 54 out of 57, the Thunderbirds were unable to control the puck in any zone for much of the game and relied on Ratzlaff to keep the score close. By the time the Thunderbirds adjusted in the third period, they didn’t have enough gas in the tank to even the score or pull ahead, and the Everett Silvertips won for the fourth time in five meetings so far during the 2023-24 season.

Seattle skaters start game lethargic, Silvertips push ahead

Everett played better in the first period in almost every facet of the game, but Seattle’s Scott Ratzlaff managed to keep almost everything out of the net – almost. Everett scored once with almost 18 minutes gone in the period. Ratzlaff had deflected a shot by Silvertips center Ben Hemmerling, but Silvertips left wing Julius Miettinen knocked the puck off Thunderbirds defenseman Sawyer Minio and into the net.

Seattle’s best chance of the period had come a few minutes earlier, around 13 and a half minutes in as the Thunderbirds got a 3-on-2 going up into the offensive zone. Seattle center Coster Dunn passed to defenseman Jeremy Hanzel, who took a strong shot on goal, but Everett goaltender Tyler Palmer denied him.

Things were even worse for the Thunderbirds in the second period. Seattle spent even less time in the offensive zone than they had in the first period, as Everett’s forecheck kept them from putting together many attacks that could even culminate in a good shot, much less score.

The Silvertips, meanwhile, expanded their lead to two goals on a long shot by right wing Jesse Heslop, 13 minutes into the period. Had Ratzlaff not been on his game, they certainly could have racked up many more. His best save of the period was one during the middle of the period. Hemmerling and Everett center Teague Patton had charged forward on a 2-on-1 and Patton had executed a perfect pass to Hemmerling, who quickly shot towards the net, but Ratzlaff guessed the play perfectly and blocked the shot.

Thunderbirds come to life in third period, but not enough to close the gap

Seattle was still in the game due to Ratzlaff’s excellent performance, and the skaters came into the third period with life and aggression they hadn’t had all game, finally racking up minutes in the offensive zone. Four minutes into the period, Dunn got the puck early in a Silvertips power play and broke away towards the net. He skated around defenders and up to the crease, sending a backhand shot into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game.

The Silvertips struck back a little over ten minutes later. Everett’s attack gave Hemmerling a chance to score with a little under six minutes left, and he did, again widening the Silvertips lead to two goals. But the Thunderbirds responded immediately with another goal of their own, as left wing Nathan Pilling scored off a rebound off a shot by defenseman Sawyer Mynio. 3-2 Everett, as once again Seattle had life and the potential to be able to tie this game up late into the third period.

However, as has been the case often over the past eight games, the Thunderbirds had dug themselves a hole too deep to crawl out of. Though they were playing better in the third period, they still struggled with puck control. With a minute and a half left, Seattle pulled Ratzlaff, but couldn’t keep possession. With a minute left, Miettinen took the puck away from the Thunderbirds and hit it to the empty net, sealing Everett’s win, 4-2.

Quick Notes

• This loss extends the Thunderbirds’ winless streak to eight games.

  • The T-birds’ last win was on December 13, 2023, 5-3 against the Spokane Chiefs.

  • The longest winning streak Seattle has had during the 2023-24 season was between October 6, 2023, and October 24, 2023, when they won 6 games in a row, half of their current win total for the season.

    • The Thunderbirds are now 12-20-2-0.

      • With this record, they are last in the U.S. Division and second-to-last in the Western Conference.

• The T-birds had one power play on Saturday and did not score during it, bringing their PP% to 23.4.

  • Their PP% is third best in the U.S. Division and fourth best in the Western Conference, behind the Prince George Cougars’ 29.0, the Portland Winterhawks’ 26.8, and the Spokane Chiefs’ 23.8.

  • Seattle killed 4 penalties in Saturday’s game, bringing their PK% to 82.0.

  • Their PK% is the best in the U.S. Division and second best in the Western Conference behind the Prince George Cougars’ 83.5.

• Seattle forward Nathan Pilling scored his second Thunderbirds goal on Saturday.

  • He now has two goals and four points in five games played for the Seattle Thunderbirds since being acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings in December.

What’s Next?

The Thunderbirds’ next game is on January 10 in Kelowna against the Rockets, who are 18-17-2-0, third in the B.C. Division. After that, Seattle has back-to-back games against the Portland Winterhawks, first at home on January 12 and then on the road on January 13. 

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