The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in a Western Hockey League game Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
The T-Birds’ next game is 5:05 p.m. Saturday against the Victoria Royals at the accesso ShoWare Center.
Seattle (26-18-4-2) took a 1-0 lead at 3:43 of the second period. Turner Ottenbreit passed the puck up ice to Matthew Wedman, who split the Tri-City defenseman to come in alone on Americans goalie Patrick Dea. Wedman beat Dea over the glove for his 11th goal of the season. Jarret Tyszka had the second assist.
Seattle goalie Dorrin Luding kept the game scoreless stopping several Americans breakaways through two periods.
Tri-City (25-16-7-0) tied the game 1-1 at 7:16 of the third period. Riley Sawchuk scored on a two-on-one break. Isaac Johnson and Liam Belcourt had the assists.
The Americans took a 2-1 lead at 12:50 of the third on the power play. Morgan Geekie got a loose puck in the slot and beat Luding.
Seattle pulled Luding with 1:16 left in the game for an extra attacker. Sawchuk was able to hit the empty net at 18:51 of the third to get the Americans third goal.
Off the ensuing faceoff, the T-Birds got the puck deep in the Americans zone and pulled Luding a second time. Turner Ottenbreit took a slap shot that Zack Andrusiak tipped past Dea with 28 seconds left for his 23rd goal of the season. Wedman had the second assist.
The T-Birds kept the pressure on in the last 28 seconds with the extra attacker but were unable to secure the tying goal.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 35-31 in the game.
Luding finished the game with 32 saves on 34 shots and his record is 8-11-1-0.
Dea had 29 saves on 31 shots and his record is 13-9-6-0.
For tickets, go online or visit the ShoWare Center box office.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – No scoring. Penalties – Hamaliuk, Sea (boarding), 2:14. Mutala, Tri (high-sticking), 10:31. Strand, Sea (holding), 18:11.
Second period – 1, Seattle, Wedman 11 (Ottenbreit, Tyszka), 3:43. Penalties – Huo, Sea (slashing), 7:09. Gatenby, Tri (tripping), 15:25.
Third period – 2, Tri-City, Sawchuk 7 (Johnson, Belcourt), 7:16. 3, Tri-City, Geekie 17, 12:50 (pp). 4, Tri-City, Sawchuk 8 (James), 18:51 (en). 5, Seattle, Andrusiak 23 (Ottenbreit, Wedman), 19:32. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (tripping), 3:29. James, Tri (boarding), 10:27. Wedman, Sea (boarding), 11:41. Rasmussen, Tri (faceoff violation), 15:49.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-9-11 31, Tri-City 13-10-12 35. Goalies – Seattle, Luding 34 shots-32 saves (8-11-1-0); Tri-City, Dea 31-29 (13-9-6-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Tri-City 1-5. A – 2,848. Referees – Duncan Brow, Bryan Bourdon. Linesmen – Anthony Guzzo, Daniel Spore.
