Comeback kids: Thunderbirds beat Rockets in first game of first round matchup
By Charles Hamaker
Kent, WA – In their first game of the 2023 WHL Playoffs, the Seattle Thunderbirds needed a comeback effort to defeat the Kelowna Rockets by a score of three-to-two. The Thunderbirds saw trouble early as the Rockets brought intensity to Seattle goaltender Thomas Milic early. Used to some slow starts, as we had seen throughout the course of the regular season, the Thunderbirds were able to respond to Kelowna’s two goals by scoring the next three goals unanswered, securing a victory.
Things got chippy between Seattle and Kelowna, and it’s only game one (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Down early, but never out
Seattle’s slow starts are something that Thunderbirds fans witnessed more than a time or two during the regular season, and they appeared in the first game of the playoffs. Kelowna got on the board first with a shot from the blueline, getting past Seattle goaltender on his glove side. The Rockets second goal of the night, coming in the second period, saw a moving screen from a Kelowna skater help another deep shot beat Milic. Coming out into Kent, scoring the first two goals, and catching Seattle off guard seem like a perfect recipe for a road playoff game win. Thankfully, the Thunderbirds attack was able to get the comeback going just as the second period was ending.
Kelowna celebrates their second goal of the night (Photo by Liz Wolter)
They dread the skill of Dylan Guenther
Dylan Guenther, prized Arizona Coyotes prospect, has done nothing but produce for the Thunderbirds since the team acquired him earlier in the season. Of the 20 games he has played in a Seattle uniform, Guenther has only gone point-less twice, amassing 29 points in that span. The forward brought the intensity today, playing a part in all three of the Thunderbirds goals to be nearly entirely responsible for the Seattle comeback. Guenther, an alternate captain for the Thunderbirds, led by example with his play, and Seattle helps take the victory due in part because of him.
Thunderbirds forward Dylan Guenther scores and celebrates one of his two goals (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Quick notes
The Seattle Thunderbirds will tackle the Kelowna Rockets for the 10th time in the WHL playoffs.
Seattle has won the past three series and five of the nine that date back to 2001.
A sequence from Seattle goaltender Thomas Milic, prior to puck drop (Photos by Liz Wolter)
What’s next?
Game two of this first round series is tomorrow, April 1st, against these Kelowna Rockets inside of the Accesso Showare Center. After today’s game saw the Thunderbirds go down early and require a comeback to secure the victory, Seattle will look to come out in better fashion. The Thunderbirds aim to start on the right foot, or skate, when they face off against the Rockets with a puck drop of 6:05PM PST. Seattle goaltender Scott Ratzlaff will likely get the start in net considering that Milic got the game one start.