The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3- 2 in a shootout Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
Tri-City goalie Eric Comrie stopped Mathew Barzal, Shea Theodore and Ryan Gropp in succession in the shootout.
Tri-City’s Jessey Astles, the first shooter for the American, scored the only goal in the shootout to get the win for the Americans. Brian Williams and Phillip Tot were denied by Seattle goalie Danny Mumaugh in the second and third rounds of the shootout.
Mumaugh made numerous key saves over the course of the game to help the T-Birds get a point out of the game. Mumaugh finished with 41 saves on 43 shots and his record is now 4-1-0-2.
The T-Birds next game is 7:05 p.m. Saturday against the Vancouver Giants at the ShoWare Center.
Tri-City (7-8-0-1) went in front 1-0 1:20 into the game when Lucas Nickles converted on penalty shot. Nickles was slashed from behind on a breakaway to draw the penalty shot.
Seattle (9-3-0-2) came right back and tied the game 1-1 45 seconds after the Americans opening goal. Evan Wardley passed the puck to Branden Troock breaking down the right wing. Troock got around a Tri-City defenseman and put shot on goal. Gropp got the rebound and beat Comrie with the shot for his first goal of the season. The goal came on his first shift and first shot of the game.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 3:40 of the first when Seth Swenson put back a rebound. Erik Benoit had a breakaway and got a shot on Comrie. Swenson was trailing the play and when Comrie made the stop the puck came right to him. He had the whole net to shoot and got his fifth of the season.
Tri-City tied the game 2-2 on a five-on-three power play with 11 seconds left in the first period. Beau McCue was credited with the goal that went in off a T-Bird defenseman’s skate. Mitch Topping and Connor Rankin had the assist.
This was the second game this season between the T-Birds and Americans to go to a shootout. The T-Birds beat the Americans 5-4 in a shootout on September 27 at ShoWare Center.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 44-33 in the game.
Comrie is now 6-7-0-1 after stopping 31 of 33 shots.
T-Birds tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Tri-City, Nickles 4, 1:20 (ps). 2, Seattle, Gropp 1 (Troock, Wardley), 2:05. 3, Seattle, Swenson 5 (Benoit), 3:40. 4, Tri-City, McCue 6 (Topping, Rankin), 19:49 (pp). Penalties – Hickman, Sea (cross checking), 18:29. Smith, Sea (tripping), 19:17.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Elliot, Sea (cross checking), 7:22. Hickman, Sea (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 10:44. Hamonic, Tri (major-fighting), 10:44. Carlo, Tri (hooking), 13:06. Smith, Sea (holding), 17:06. Nickles, Tri (boarding), 17:17. Lipsbergs, Sea (goaltender interference), 18:53.
Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Wotherspoon, Tri (hooking), 12:18. Williams, Tri (high-sticking), 18:32.
Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – No penalties.
Shootout – Seattle 0 (Barzal NG, Theodore NG, Gropp NG). Tri-City 1 (Astles G, Williams NG, Tot NG).
Shots on goal – Seattle 10-10-11-2-0 33, Tri-City 12-11-16-4-1 43. Goalies – Seattle, Mumaugh 43 shots-41 saves (4-1-0-2); Tri-City, Comrie 33-31 (6-7-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-5; Tri-City 1-6. A – 3,695. Referees – Jason Nissen, Mike Campbell. Linesmen – Ron Dietterle, Ryan Gibbons.
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