Americans squeak by Thunderbirds 4-3 Friday

The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in a shootout Friday night at ShoWare Center in Kent.

The game was tied 3-3 after 65 minutes of hockey. The T-Birds elected to shoot first in the shootout. Seattle’s first three shooters, Greg Scott, Prab Rai and Thomas Hickey were all stopped by Tri-City goalie Drew Owsley.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard stopped the first three Tri- City shooters, Mitch Fadden, Jason Reese and Johnny Lazo.

The shootout moved to sudden death and Seattle sent out Jim O’Brien. Owsley denied O’Brien. Adam Hughesman was the fourth shooter for the Americans and he beat Pickard to give Tri-City the win.

The T-Birds are now 17-21-1-3 and face the Prince George Cougars on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. at ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds took a 1-0 lead at 9:37 of the first period on the eighth goal of the year from Lindsay Nielsen. Chris Cloud fed the puck from the right corner to Nielsen in the slot. Nielsen beat Owsley with a quick shot to give Seattle the lead. Jeremy Schappert had the second assist on the goal.

Fadden tied the game 1-1 for the Americans at 11:39 of the first. Justin Feser and Reese had the assists.

Seattle outshot Tri-City 8-6 in the first period.

Jeremy Boyer was awarded a penalty shot at 6:20 of the second period. Boyer attempted to beat Owsley over the glove with a quick snap shot but the goalie snagged the puck.

The Americans (28-11-0-2) went ahead 2-1 at 14:44 of the second period on a shorthanded goal by Taylor Procyshen. Reese had the only assist on the goal.

Seattle tied the game 2-2 with a power-play goal by Scott at 18:00 of the second. Jonathan Parker sent the puck from the left corner to Scott in the high slot. Scott faked a defender, moved to his left and then beat Owsley with a hard wrist shot over the goalie’s glove. Prab Rai had the second assist on the goal.

The T-Birds outshot the Americans 10-4 in the second period and led 18-10 in total shots after two periods.

Scott put the T-Birds in front 3-2 at 2:26 when he converted a Rai pass off the rush. Rai brought the puck up the right side. At the bottom of the right face off circle he centered the puck to Scott coming through the right circle. Scott beat Owsley with a low shot past his outstretched left leg. Schappert had the second assist on the goal.

Fadden tied the game for the Americans 3-3 when he scored at 6:39 of the third. Hughesman and Reese had the assists on the goal.

The Americans outshot the T-Birds 10-9 in the third period but the T-Birds led 27-20 in total shots after 60 minutes.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 3-1 in the overtime but the T- Birds finished the game with a 28-24 advantage in total shots

Pickard made 20 saves on 24 shots and his record is now 10-9-1-3.

Owsley stopped 25 of 28 shots and his record is now 7-3-0-0.

Single game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website or at the ShoWare Center box office. 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 – 1, Seattle, Nielsen 8 (Cloud, Schappert), 9:37. 2, Tri-City, Fadden 13 (Feser, Reese), 11:39. Penalties – Dillon, Sea (holding), 4:37.

Second period – 3, Tri-City, Procyshen 23 (Reese), 14:44 (sh). 4, Seattle, Scott 13 (Parker, Rai), 18:00 (pp). Penalties – McColm, Tri (cross checking), 12:59. Fadden, Tri (slashing), 16:52.

Third period – 5, Seattle, Scott 14 (Rai, Schappert), 2:26. 6, Tri-City, Fadden 14 (Hughesman, Reese), 6:39. Penalties – Schappert, Sea (hooking), 7:29.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.

Shootout – Seattle 0 (Scott NG, Rai NG, Hickey NG, O’Brien NG). Tri-City 1 (Fadden NG, Reese NG, Lazo NG, Hughesman G).

Shots on goal – Seattle 8-10-9-1 28. Tri-City 6- 4-10-3 23. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 24 shots-20 saves (10-9-1-3); Tri-City, Owsley 28-25 (7-3- 0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Tri-City 0-2. A – 3,508. Referee – Andy Thiessen. Linesmen – Kiel Murchison, Chris Sweeting.