When you hear the word shutout in regards to the Seattle Thunderbirds, it isn’t a big surprise. The Birds have led a number of one-sided victories this season, with Logan Flodell making the first shutouts of his career. But when you hear it was against the Everett Silvertips, you kind of have to do a little dance and get down tonight because it’s a big deal. Everett has been smashing the Birds over and over again, but during the last game we had hope; the victory was by a very narrow margin and at the very end of the game, so Birds fans were left wondering—will we do it next time?

Yes indeed, folks. We did it this time. In front of 5,586 fans at the ShoWare Center on Saturday night, Matthew Barzal made the only two goals of the evening and Landon Bow made 24 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Tips. Fans who have been wary about Bow for months should now at least concede the kid has it after this game. This is also his fourth shutout with the team. Bow’s saves throughout the night numbed seven in the first period, 10 in the second and seven again in the third, raising his stats to 18-20-4-0. Everett goalie Carter Hart had a hard night, particularly when a wrist shot from Ryan Gropp hit him hard and he landed on the ice.

Barzal’s goals were scored during the first and third periods. The first had assists from Ryan Gropp and Brandon Schuldhaus; the second was assisted by Donovan Neuls . Did the Birds seem to have some new tricks up their sleeve? For months, fans thought they needed to adapt because the Tips could just predict all of their moves too easily. It is probably more accurate, however, to say that after some sweeping changes earlier in the season, the boys have really learned to work together and finally found their footing. After winning game after game, this is just icing on the cake.

In other good T-Bird news, the Hockey Challenge of 2016 raised $200,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Birds are really on a ball, both on the ice and in the community. The cup is just around the corner and they seem to be proving that they are ready and willing for the opportunity to take it home. Fans would have to agree after Saturday’s game.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia