The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in a Western Hockey League shootout Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
Nolan Yaremko and Parker AuCoin scored in the shootout for the Americans. Tri-City goalie Beck Warm stopped Noah Philp and Andrej Kukuca.
With the point gained by going to a shootout, the T-Birds moved into a tie for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with the Prince George Cougars, who were idle Friday night.
Seattle outshot Tri-City 10-6 in a scoreless first period.
Tri-City (22-16-2-1) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Riley Sawchuk at 3:06 of the second period. Parker AuCoin had the only assist.
Seattle (15-21-4-1) tied the game 1-1 at 13:22 of the second on the power play. Keltie Jeri-Leon took a pass at the right point from Jake Lee. Jeri-Leon sent the puck to Sean Richards on the goal line to the right of the net. Richards centered the puck to Payton Mount in the slot. Mount took a quick shot that Tri-City goalie Beck Warm stopped. Mount got his own rebound and snapped it past Warm.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead with 2:19 left in the second. Tyrel Bauer moved the puck up ice from the Seattle zone to Philp in the neutral zone. Philp crossed the puck to Richards on the left wing and skated hard into slot. Richards feathered the puck to Philp coming in alone on Warm. Philp beat Warm with a backhand shot for his 16th goal of the season.
Seattle outshot Tri-City 17-6 in the second period and led 27-12 in shots after two periods.
AuCoin tied the game 2-2 for the Americans at 9:41 of the third period.
The T-Birds held a 39-23 advantage in shots after 60 minutes.
Seattle goalie Roddy Ross made 22 saves on 24 shots, and his record is 3-0-0-1. Warm made 39 saves on 41 shots, and his record is 21-15-2-0.
Teddy Bear Toss game
The T-Birds host the Victoria Royals at 6:05 p.m. Saturday in the annual Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss presented by WARM 106.9 FM. After the T-Birds’ first goal of the game fans can throw teddy bears and stuffed animals onto the ice. The WARM 106.9 FM Teddy Bear Patrol will collect the teddy bears and stuffed animals for first responders, who give them to children in times of crisis.
Single-game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
Fans who purchase the 24-flex ticket package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – No scoring. Penalties – McNelly, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:37. Schmiemann, Tri (tripping), 5:08. Kaluski, Sea (roughing), 7:44. Wedman, Sea (checking from behind), 14:40. Hrabik, Tri (holding opponents stick), 20:00.
Second period – 1, Tri-City, Sawchuk 14 (AuCoin), 3:06. 2, Seattle, Mount 4 (Richards, Jeri-Leon), 13:22 (pp). 3, Seattle, Philp 16 (Richards, Kubicek), 17:41. Penalties – Brown, Tri (interference), 4:58. Newell, Tri (slashing), 8:34. Schmiemann, Tri (interference), 12:46.
Third period – 4, Tri-City, AuCoin 24 (Brown, Hrabik), 9:41. Penalties – Brown, Tri (delay of game), 10:51.
Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.
Shootout – Seattle 0 (Philp NG, Kukuca NG). Tri-City 2 (Yaremko G, Olson NG, AuCoin G).
Shots on goal – Seattle 10-17-12-2-0 41, Tri-City 6-6-11-1-1 25. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 24 shots-22 saves (3-0-0-1); Tri-City, Warm 41-39 (21-15-2-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Tri-City 0-3. Referees – Kevin Bennett, Bryan Bourdon. Linesmen – Nick Albinati, Michael McGowan.
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