Americans shut down T-Birds 4-2 Friday in Kent

The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 Friday night at ShoWare Center.

This was the first of two consecutive games against the Americans at ShoWare Center. The two teams meet again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Chris Cloud put the T-Birds in front 1-0 at 17:45 of the first period. Jeremy Boyer headed up ice on a two-on- one with Jim O’Brien on his left. The Tri-City defender forced Boyer wide. Boyer attempted a pass from the bottom of the right circle across the top of the crease to O’Brien. Tri-City goalie Brent Martyniuk was able to block the pass but the puck lay in the crease. Cloud was trailing the play and poked the loose puck in to the back of the net for his 12th goal of the year.

Seattle (31-31-1-4) outshot Tri-City 10-9 in the first period.

Johnny Lazo scored for Tri-City (48-17-0-3) at 8:19 of the second period to tie the game 1-1. His goal was unassisted.

The Americans went in front 2-1 at 14:23 of the second on a goal by Spencer Asuchak. Brock Sutherland and Brendean Shinnimin had the assists on the goal.

The Americans went in front 2-1 at 14:23 of the second on a goal by Spencer Asuchak. Brock Sutherland and Brendean Shinnimin had the assists on the goal.

Tri-City took a 3-1 lead at 14:43 of the second on a goal by Adam Hughesman. Mitch McColm and Sutherland had assists on the goal.

Taylor Procyshen scored a power-play goal at 19:12 of the second to give the Americans a 4-1 lead. Fadden and Hughesman had the assists.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 11-4 in the second period and led 20-14 in total shots after two periods.

The T-Birds got their second goal at 11:13 of the third period. Stefan Warg took a wrist shot from the right point with Jonathan Parker in front of Martyniuk. Parker redirected Warg’s shot past Martyniuk for his 17th goal of the year.

Seattle outshot Tri-City 15-10 in the third period but the Americans had a 30-29 advantage to finish the game.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard stopped 26 of 30 shots and his record falls is now 20-15-1-4.

Martyniuk made 27 saves on 29 shots and his record is now 6-1-0-0.

The T-Birds have clinched a spot in the 2009 WHL Playoffs. The T-Birds will start the playoffs on the road against an opponent to be determined. Games 3 and 4 of the first round playoff series will be at ShoWare Center on Tuesday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 25. Both games are at 7:05 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Cloud 12 (Boyer), 17:45. Penalties – Reese, Tri (roughing), :43. Parker, Sea (tripping), 7:41. Toll, Tri (hooking), 10:32.

Second period – 2, Tri-City, Lazo 22, 8:19. 3, Tri-City, Asuchak 4 (Sutherland, Shinnimin), 14:23. 4, Tri-City, Hughesman 16 (McColm, Sutherland), 14:43. 5, Tri-City, Procyshen 36 (Fadden, Hughesman), 19:12 (pp). Penalties – Scott, Sea (tripping), 4:02. Reese, Tri (interference), 4:36. Cloud, Sea (interference), 12:03. Hickey, Sea (tripping), 17:46. Bench, Sea (served by Lockhart), 20:00.

Third period – 6, Seattle, Parker 17 (Warg), 11:13. 7, Penalties – Hughesman, Tri (tripping), 1:27. Schmidt, Tri (tripping), 2:52. Cloud, Sea (major-fighting), 9:10. McColm, Tri (major- fighting), 9:10. LeBlanc, Sea (major-fighting), 9:10. Werbowski, Tri (roughing, major-fighting), 9:10. Lockhart, Sea (roughing, major-fighting, game misconduct), 9:10. Macek, Tri (major-fighting, game misconduct), 9:10. Scott, Sea (cross checking, roughing), 11:55. Reese, Tri (unsportsmanlike conduct-diving), 11:55. Feser, Tri (slashing), 12:05.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-4-15 29. Tri-City 9- 11-10 30. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 30 shots- 26 saves (20-15-1-4); Tri-City, Martyniuk 29-27 (6-1-0- 0). Power plays – Seattle 0-6; Tri-City 1-6. A – 4,219. Referee – Nathan Wieler, Tyler Johnson. Linesmen – Bevan Mills, Clayton Richardson.