In the 1989-90 campaign that Thunderbirds team got their 52 nd win in game number 71 of a 72-game season. Schaefer and Sawyer Mynio got the assists. Crnkovic then sealed the win with an empty netter with 90-seconds remaining. That setup the late game Crnkovic heroics. Portland got on the board with a power play goal just 11-seconds into the third period, then tied it with an even strength goal at 5:53.

Brad Lambert and Jeremy Hanzel earned the assists.

Ten minutes later Dylan Guenther jammed home a puck sitting on the goal line. The first came shorthanded and unassisted from Nico Myatovic at 4:02. Seattle had built a 2-0 lead with a pair of second period goals. “I think it bounced off the ice and I batted it out of the air.” Davidson and Reid Schaefer were credited with the helpers. “And in a big game for us, it was nice to pot one.” The initial shot from Jared Davidson was wide of the net, but Crnkovic was there to knock it home. The goal also snapped Crnkovic’s six-game scoreless streak. Crnkovic was able to put a puck past the Portland goalie at the left post with just over three minutes remaining to restore the lead. The Thunderbirds got the win despite giving up a two-goal lead early in the third period. Seattle returns home to the accesso ShoWare Center Tuesday with a chance to break the record when they face the Kamloops Blazers. With a record of 52-9-1-2 Seattle has tied the franchise mark for wins in a season, set back in 1989-90 when they finished 52-17-3. –Kyle Crnkovic scored two late goals and the Seattle Thunderbirds pulled away from the Portland Winterhawks, 4-2, Saturday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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