For the Reporter
The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-1 Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
Justin Hamonic scored at 16:35 of the first period to put the Americans in front 1-0. Hamonic corralled a rebound to the left of Seattle goalie Taran Kozun and scored after pinching down from the right point. Jackson Playfair and Brayden Purtill had the assists.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 10-7 in the first period.
Tri-City (2-1-0-0) went in front 2-0 at 5:49 of the second period on a goal from Beau McCue. McCue beat Kozun from the slot off a pass from Ty Comrie.
Seattle (1-2-0-0) cut the lead to one goal at 10:38 of the second on an unassisted goal from Donovan Neuls. Neuls stole the puck from Tri-City goalie Eric Comrie behind the Americans net. Neuls wrapped the puck around the net at the right and put it into the empty net for his first career goal.
Rodney Southam converted on a breakaway at 13:16 of the second to get the Americans back in front by two goals. Maxwell James sent Southam in alone with a long stretch pass.
Seattle outshot Tri-City 8-6 in the second period and the Americans led 16-15 in shots after two periods.
The T-Birds pulled Kozun with just under two minutes left in the third period but were unsuccessful in converting with the extra attacker.
Seattle outshot Tri-City 8-4 in the third period and 23-20 in the game.
Kozun stopped 17 of 20 shots and his record falls to 1-2-0-0 on the season.
Comrie made 22 saves on 23 shots in his season debut to make him 1-0-0-0.
The T-Birds next game is Friday, Oct. 3, in Portland against the Winterhawks. The game starts at 7 p.m. They host the Kelowna Rockets on Oct. 4, at 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.
Single-game 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, Hamonic 1 (Playfair, Purtill), 16:35. Penalties – Hamonic, Tri (checking from behind), 3:40. Spencer, Sea (major-fighting), 10:46. Hillis, Tri (major-fighting), 10:46. Kolesar, Sea (hooking), 12:38.
Second period – 2, Tri-City, McCue 2 (Lukin, Hillis), 5:49. 3, Seattle, Neuls 1, 10:38. 4, Tri-City, Southam 1 (James), 13:16. Penalties – Nickles, Tri (tripping), 1:37. James, Tri (tripping), 7:21. Hamonic, Tri (tripping), 17:07.
Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Spencer, Sea (hooking), 8:27.
Shots on goal – Seattle 7-8-8 23, Tri-City 10-6-4 20. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 20 shots-17 saves (1-2-0-0); Tri-City, Comrie 23-22 (1-0-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Tri-City 0-2. A – 3,233. Referees – Trevor Shively, Andrew Wilk. Linesmen – Jason Michelbook, Joey Nyberg.
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