Americans defeat Thunderbirds in regular-season finale

Americans defeat Thunderbirds in regular-season finale

Seattle opens playoffs at Everett on Friday

  • Monday, March 19, 2018 10:06am
  • Sports

For the Reporter

The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick in a Western Hockey League regular-season finale.

The T-Birds (34-28-8-2) – the second wild-card playoff team in the Western Conference – open the postseason against the U.S. Division champions, Everett Silvertips. Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series are Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, in Everett.

Tri-City (38-25-8-1) went in front 1-0 at 3:55 of the first period on a goal from Nolan Yaremko. Jake Bean and Kyle Olson had the assists.

The T-Birds answered back quickly when Zack Andrusiak scored at 5:06 of the first. Sami Moilanen threw the puck on net from the right corner. The puck rebounded to Zack and he snuck it past Tri-City goalie Patrick Dea for his 36th goal of the season. Austin Strand had the second assist.

The Americans took a 2-1 lead at 13:41 of the second period on a goal from Jake Bean off assists from Yaremko and Dan Gatenby.

Yaremko scored a second goal, with nine seconds left in the second, to put the Americans in front 3-1. Juuso Valimaki and Jordan Topping had the assists.

Seattle cut the Americans’ lead to one goal at 7:13 of the third period on an unassisted shorthanded breakaway goal by Dillon Hamaliuk, who skated right to left through the low slot and beat Tri-City goalie Beck Warm low on the stick side.

Tri-City took the two-goal lead back at 7:57 of the third on a goal by Parker AuCoin. Morgan Geekie had the only assist.

AuCoin scored a second goal at 15:10 of the third period to get the Americans fifth goal. Valimaki had the only assist.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 42-20 in the game.

Seattle goalie Dorrin Luding had 37 saves on 42 shots, and his record is 9-15-1-0.

Dea played 32 minutes and had nine saves on 10 shots. Warm played 28 minutes and had nine saves on 10 shots.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Tri-City, Yaremko 21 (Bean, Olson), 3:55. 2, Seattle, Andrusiak 36 (Moilanen, Strand), 5:36. Penalties – Moilanen, Sea (double minor-slew footing), 6:36. Valimaki, Tri (high-sticking), 15:38. Hamaliuk, Sea (interference), 16:53.

Second period – 3, Tri-City, Bean 12 (Yaremko, Gatenby), 13:41. 4, Tri-City, Yaremko 22 (Valimaki, Topping), 19:51. Penalties – Lee, Sea (roughing), 3:02. Huo, Sea (roughing), 3:02. McNelly, Sea (slashing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 3:02. Sawchuk, Tri (roughing), 3:02. Sawchuk, Tri (double minor-roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 3:02. Bjorklund, Tri (roughing), 3:02. Tyszka, Sea (roughing), 19:51. Olson, Sea (roughing), 19:51.

Third period – 5, Seattle, Hamaliuk 15, 7:13 (sh). 6, Tri-City, AuCoin 18 (Geekie), 7:57 (pp). 7, Tri-City, AuCoin 19 (Valimaki), 15:10. Penalties – Lee, Sea (high sticking), 4:23. MacLean, Sea (tripping), 6:26. Tyszka, Sea (double minor-cross checking), 8:12. OIson, Tri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:12. Gatenby, Tri (tripping), 10:54. MacLean, Sea (cross checking), 13:19. Bouchard, Tri (10-minute misconduct), 19:49.

Shots on goal – Seattle 7-5-8 20, Tri-City 13-11-18 42. Goalies – Seattle, Luding 42 shots-37 saves (9-15-1-0); Tri-City, Dea 10-9 (23-14-7-0), Warm 10-9. Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Tri-City 2-8. A – 3,708. Referees – Mike Campbell, Mark Pearce. Linesmen – Ron Dietterle, Michael McGowan.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Kentwood pitcher Sarah Wright pitches to Lake Stevens at Auburn Riverside High School. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Launch party: Kentwood hits three HR in win over Lake Stevens

Thomasson, Wright, Ursino go large. Wright punches out 17 in win.

Tacos from the Mariners Food Preview Event. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Mariners unveil new ballpark eats for 2024 season

A couple of our reporters headed to T-Mobile Park to see if the Mariners’ food budget was as tight as their player free agency budget.

t
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Caiden Dodd

Dodd filled in as goal when the team needed someone to step up.

t
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Anna Shved

Shved is undefeated this year on the court for the Conk tennis team.

Keilor Cacho-Garcia possesses the ball in the first half against the Eagles. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Soccer: Kent-Meridian and Federal Way draw

Johnny Chino-Lopez scores the single goal for the Royals in the game.

Hazen celebrates their walk-off win as Christopher Moore leaves the field. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake baseball falls in heartbreaker to Hazen

After overcoming a 4-1 deficit, Kentlake loses on a walk-off.

t
Kent-based T-Birds fail to make WHL playoffs for first time since 2012

Seattle drops Portland on St. Patrick’s Day but playoff streak ends at 11 years

Sarah Wright eyes down the target as she pitches at Liberty High School. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Softball: Kentwood wins thriller in extra innings at Liberty

Sarah Wright dominated in the season opener with 20 strikeouts, no earned runs.

First panel of players sit in front of media members and fans inside the Ron Sandwith Teen Center. Photo Provided by Rodney McCurry.
Kent-based Seattle Majestics have a new leader and new energy

Women’s football team to play home games at French Field, next to Kent-Meridian High School

t
Kent-Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Andres Zuluaga

Zuluaga works hard and is a great player.

t
Kent-Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Angie Depano

Depano has a firey spirit and demonstrates tenacity at meets.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Brandon Tagle

Tagle help lead the Conk basketball team to its first district championship since 2017.