Americans outlast T-Birds in shootout | WHL

For the Reporter

The Tri-City Americans beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in a shootout Friday night at Toyota Center in Kennewick in the first game of a home-and-home series.

The T-Birds and Americans meet in the second game of the home-and-home series at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at the ShoWare Center. The game, originally scheduled for today, was moved to Sunday because of the Seattle Seahawks playoff game.

All tickets originally purchased for the game on Saturday will be honored on Sunday.

The T-Birds have a special 12th Man Fan Pack for the game against the Americans on Sunday. Fans can buy 12 tickets to the game for only $120. The 12th Man Fan Pack is available for purchase online.

Richard Nejezchleb, the first shooter, was the only player to score in the shootout. Tri-City goalie Evan Sarthou stopped Shea Theodore, Lane Pederson and Roberts Lipsbergs in the shootout. After Nejezchleb scored, Seattle goalie Taran Kozun stopped Brian Williams and Tyler Sandhu.

Theodore had two goals and an assist in the loss. It was Theodore’s first game back with the T-Birds after winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in Montreal.

Seattle (19-16-2-3) went in front 1-0 at 5:13 of the first period just as a power play ended. Ethan Bear moved the puck from the right point to Theodore at the left point. Theodore took a wrist shot with traffic in front of Tri-City goalie Evan Sarthou. Theodore’s shot beat Sarthou low for his third goal of the season. Scott Eansor had the second assist on the goal.

Tri-City (20-19-0-2) tied the game 1-1 at 12:43 of the first on a goal from Tyler Morrison.

Theodore struck on the power play at 12:18 of the second period to put the T-Birds in front 2-1. Keegan Kolesar passed the puck to Theodore in the right circle. Theodore snapped the puck over Sarthou’s glove for his second goal of the game. Lane Pederson had the second assist on the goal.

Jerret Smith gave the T-Birds a 3-1 lead with a power-play goal at 13:41 of the third period. Donovan Neuls had the puck on the right wall and passed it to Theodore at the right point. Theodore skated to center ice and then passed the puck to Smith in the left circle. Smith one-timed Theodore’s shot and beat Sarthou high.

The Americans scored two goals in 31 seconds with less than two minutes left to tie the game 3-3. With Sarthou on the bench for an extra attacker Nejezchleb poked in a loose puck to the left of Kozun at 17:58. Then, Williams, with Sarthou on the bench again, scored from the right circle at 18:29 of the period.

Kozun stopped 35 of 38 shots and his record is now 17-11-2-3.

Sarthou improves to 6-9-0-2 by stopping 21 of 24 shots.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Theodore 3 (Bear, Eansor), 5:13. 2, Tri-City, Morrison 2 (Sandhu, Comrie), 12:43. Penalties – Wotherspoon, Tri (interference), 3:07. Wardley, Sea (slashing), 9:24.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Theodore 4 (Kolesar, Pederson), 12:18 (pp). Penalties – Hamonic, Tri (interference), 11:24. Kolesar, Sea (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 13:21. James, Tri (major-fighting), 13:21.

Third period – 4, Seattle, Smith 4 (Theodore, Neuls), 13:41 (pp). 5, Tri-City, Nejezchleb 12 (Williams, Nickles), 17:58. 6, Tri-City, Williams 16 (McCue), 18:29. Penalties – Wardley, Sea (high-sticking), :54. Sandhu, Tri (delay of game), 13:17.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 0 (Theodore NG, Pederson NG, Lipsbergs NG). Tri-City 1 (Nejezchleb G, Williams NG, Sandhu NG).

Shots on goal – Seattle 6-7-9-2-0 24, Tri-City 11-13-10-3-1 38. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 38 shots-35 saves (17-11-2-3); Tri-City, Sarthou 24-21 (6-9-0-2). Power plays – Seattle 2-3; Tri-City 0-2. A – 4,079. Referees – Jeff Ingram, Trevor Shively. Linesmen – Tim Digby, Bevan Mills.