For the Reporter
The Tri-City Americans shut out the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-0 Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
The T-Birds return home to host the Portland Winterhawks at the ShoWare Center for the first time this season. Face-off is 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.
Tri-City (17-13-0-1) took a 1-0 lead at 7:31 of the first period on a five-on-three power-play goal from Richard Nejezchleb. Nejezchleb beat Seattle goalie Taran Kozun from the right circle. Parker Bowles and Brandon Carlo had the assists.
The Americans extended the lead to 2-0 on a power-play goal from Parker Bowles at 8:05 of the first. Beau McCue and Nejezchleb had the assists.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 14-2 in the first period.
Seattle (13-14-2-2) outshot Tri-City 9-6 in the second period but the Americans led 20-11 in total shots after two periods.
Vladislav Lukin scored from the left circle on a wrist shot to give the Americans a 3-0 lead at 2:12 of the third period. Ty Comrie and Parker Wotherspoon had the assists.
The T-Birds pulled Kozun with just under three minutes left in the game. They got several good chances but were not able to break the shutout.
Lucas Nickles added an empty-net goal at 19:59 of the third for the Americans fourth goal. Brian Williams had the only assist.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 26-17 in the game.
Kozun ended the night with 22 saves on 25 shots and his record is 12-9-2-2.
Tri-City goalie Evan Sarthou stopped all 17shots he faced and he is now 3-3-0-1.
Tuesday with a Seahawk
The last game before the holiday break is 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the ShoWare Center. The 2-for-Tuesday game will feature Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson dropping the ceremonial first puck.
Tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Tri-City, Nejezchleb 9 (Bowles, Carlo) 7:31 (pp). 2, Tri-City, Bowles 10 (McCue, Nejezchleb), 8:05 (pp). Penalties – Spencer, Sea (slashing), 5:46. Smith, Sea (double minor-high sticking), 6:05. Osterman, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:29. Carlo, Tri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:29. Nickles, Tri (slashing), 18:48.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Gutierrez, Tri (hooking), 2:46.
Third period – 3, Tri-City, Lukin 6 (Comrie, Wotherspoon), 2:11. 4, Tri-City, Nickles 10 (Williams) 19:59 (en). Penalties – Gutierrez, Tri (slashing), 11:31.
Shots on goal – Seattle 2-9-6 17, Tri-City 14-6-6 26. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 25 shots-22 saves (12-9-2-2); Tri-City, Sarthou 17-17 (3-3-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Tri-City 2-3. A – 5,227. Referees – Adam Griffiths, Jason Nissen. Linesmen – Jarrod Bowman, Jacob Hill.
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