The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1 Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington.

The T-Birds played a good road game, keeping the score close until the last minute of the game when the Americans scored two empty-net goals.

The T-Birds face the Kamloops Blazers Saturday at 7:05pm at ShoWare Center.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 7-6 in a scoreless first period.

Jesse Mychan scored 46 seconds into the second period to give Tri-City (36-12-1-1) a 1-0 lead. Patrick Holland and Derek Ryckman had the assists.

The Americans extended their lead to 2-0 at 6:30 of the second with a power-play goal by Brendan Shinnimin. Justin Feser and Holland were credited with the assists.

Seattle (18-30-1-1) got on the board at 17:33 of the second on a power-play goal by Connor Honey. Luke Lockhart sent the puck from the high left circle across to Brendan Rouse in the right circle. Rouse quickly sent the puck to Honey at the left post. Honey chipped the puck over Tri-City goalie Eric Comrie who was lunging from his left to right to try and make the save. Honey has a scored in three of the T-Birds last four games.

The Americans led 16-13 in total shots after two periods.

The T-Birds pulled goalie Calvin Pickard with a minute and a half left in the game for an extra attacker to try and tie the game.

Feser scored an empty-net goal with 56 seconds left in the game off an assist from Michal Plutnar to get the Americans third goal.

The Americans were called for a delay of game penalty eight seconds after Feser’s goal. The T-Birds elected to pull Pickard again to give them a six-on-four advantage on the power play.

The T-Birds were not able to capitalize as Feser struck for a second empty-net goal. Feser’s second goal, which was shorthanded, came at 19:29 of the final period. Shinnimin and Zach Yuen had the assists.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 25-22 in the game.

Pickard made 21 saves on 23 shots and his record is now 18-25-1-1.

Comrie stopped 20 of 21 shots and his record falls to 16-4-1-1.

T-Birds single game tickets for the 2011-12 season 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.

T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Deagle, Sea (delay of game), 8:25.

Second period – 1, Tri-City, Mychan 7 (Holland, Ryckman), :46. 2, Tri-City, Shinnimin 30 (Feser, Holland), 6:30 (pp). 3, Seattle, Honey 3 (Rouse, Lockhart) 17:33 (pp). Penalties -Rouse, Sea (hooking), 2:06. Troock, Sea (tripping), 5:53. Mychan, Tri (high-sticking), 11:41. Laroque, Sea (holding), 14:17. Nickels, Tri (tripping), 17:16.

Third period – 4, Tri-City, Feser 25 (Plutnar), 19:04 (en). 5, Tri-City, Feser 26 (Shinnimin, Yuen) 19:29 (sh/en). Penalties – Deagle, Sea (checking from behind), 7:01. Rankin, Tri (high-sticking), 14:34. Dow, Tri (delay of game), 19:13.

Shots on goal – Seattle 6-7-9 22. Tri-City 7-8-10 25. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 23 shots-21 saves (18-25-1-1); Tri-City, Comrie 22-21 (16-4-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Tri-City 1-5. A – 5,522. Referee – Ryan Benbow, Trent Knorr. Linesmen – Chris Carlson, Kiel Murchison.