Maybe 2016 is just going to be their year or maybe it’s a streak of luck, but the Seattle Thunderbirds are killing it this year! Last week, we saw a shutout when the Birds conquered the Rockets with Logan Flodell back at guarding the goal, and this week they’ve beaten the Kamloops Blazers with almost another shutout. The Blazers were only able to nab a single goal before the game was over, and Landon Bow was back at the net, allowing only one shot to get past his defenses the entire game. Bow’s stats are now 16-18-4-0.

Bow wasn’t the only young many to have a great night on the ice, either. Keegan Kolesar scored not one but TWO goals, resulting in 26 goals for Kolesar this season. His first goal was part of a sweet power play assisted by Ryan Gropp and Ethan Bear. Kolesar’s shot soared right over Connor Ingram’s right shoulder, making fans at the ShoWare Center roar wildly. The Birds even outshot the Blazers double time, with a 14-7 shot ratio.

During the second period, the second goal of the night was scored by Matthew Wedman for his sixth goal of the season. In fact, Wedman hit it back as a rebound after Josh Uhrich made the original shot that was sent back by Ingram. That was one shot that was going into that net one way or another! The Blazers made a bigger effort, with shot tallies at 22-18 Birds by the end of the second period, but it still wasn’t enough for them to get on the board.

During the third period, the Blazers finally got on the board with a goal made by Matt Needham and assisted by Garrett Pilon, but Kolesar scored the final third goal of the night in an empty net goal that made fans stand and cheer. Winning is always fun, and Kolesar is having a great season, making it even more exciting to celebrate. Even though the Blazers outshot the Birds 11-5 in the third period and in the game overall, the Birds were simply on it on Wednesday night. They hustled, they stayed accurate and perhaps most importantly, they continued to work together with their new goalie to make it happen.

And while the Birds are still trailing the Tips at the number two spot right now, we are only five points behind now compared with last week’s seven. We are gaining on them!

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia