Americans down Thunderbirds, 5-3

The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-3 Saturday night at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

This was the second game of a home-and-home series between the two teams. The T-Birds beat the Americans 3-1 on Friday night in Kennewick.

The T-Birds have 52 points and are in seventh place in the Western Conference Playoff Standings. They are one point ahead of the Everett Silvertips who beat the Portland Winterhawks 4-2 Saturday night in Everett. The T-Birds are eight points ahead of the ninth place Prince George Cougars who were idle Saturday night.

Luke Lockhart gave the T-Birds an early 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 2:44 of the first period. Jared Hauf moved the puck up the right boards to Adam Kambeitz. Kambeitz held the puck then fired it to Lockhart streaking wide up the ice. Lockhart caught the puck as a Tri-City defender fell down and skated in alone on Tri-City goalie Luke Lee-Knight. Lockhart faked a wrist shot, brought the puck to his backhand and lifted it over Lee-Knight’s glove.

Tri-City (38-23-1-2) tied the game 1-1 at 9:20 of the first on a goal from Jesse Mychan. Zach Yuen had the only assist on the goal. The T-Birds argued that the goal should not have counted as Seattle goalie Brandon Glover was pushed into the net by the Americans. T-Birds head coach Steve Konowalchuk had a long conversation at the bench with one of the referees about the goal.

Drydn Dow put the Americans in front 2-1 at 14:03 of the first. Justin Feser had an assist on the goal.

The Americans had four power plays to none for the T-Bird in the first period and outshot the T-Birds 17-5 in the period.

Seattle (22-36-7-1) tied the game 2-2 at 8:23 of the second period after several minutes of continuous cycling of the puck. Shea Theodore had the puck at the left point. He sent the puck to Justin Hickman at the top of the slot. Hickman directed the puck to Riley Sheen coming into the left circle. Sheen skated towards the net and snapped a wrist shot over Lee-Knight’s glove for the tying goal.

Feser put the Americans in front at 10:23 of the second with his 40th goal of the year. Mychan and Dow had the assists.

Tri-City went in front 4-2 at 13:48 of the second when Malte Stromwall scored. Feser and Lucas Nickles were credited with the assists.

The T-Birds outshot the Americans 10-5 in the second period but the Americans had a 22-15 advantage in shots after two periods.

Lockhart cut the Americans lead to one goal at 12:12 of the third period with his second goal of the night. Alexander Delnov took a shot from the right point that Lee-Knight bobbled. Lockhart was on top of the crease and banged the rebound past the goalie. Roberts Lipsbergs had the second assist on the goal.

Yuen score an empty-net goal at 18:53 of the third to ice the game for the Americans. Lee-Knight had the only assist on the goal.

The Americans outshot the T-Birds 31-28 in the game.

Seattle goalie Brandon Glover made 26 saves on 30 shots and his record falls to 21-27-5-1.

Lee-Knight stopped 25 of 28 shots and his record improves to 11-8-0-0.

The T-Birds next game is Wednesday, March 6, against the Spokane Chiefs at Veterans Memorial Arena. They are back at ShoWare Center on Friday, March 8, to take on the Prince George Cougars at 7:35 p.m. The Everett Silvertips are at the ShoWare Center on Saturday, March 9, at 7:05 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Lockhart 21 (Kambeitz, Hauf), 2:44 (sh). 2, Tri-City, Mychan 18 (Yuen), 9:20. 3, Tri-City, Dow 5 (Feser), 14:03. Penalties – Green, Sea (holding), 1:18. Wray, Sea (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 5:06. Chynoweth, Tri (major-fighting), 5:06. Lockhart, Sea (high sticking), 9:20. Theodore, Sea (tripping), 16:53

Second period – 4, Seattle, Sheen 12 (Hickman, Theodore), 8:23. 5, Tri-City, Feser 40 (Mychan, Dow), 10:23. 6, Tri-City, Stromwall 18 (Feser, Nickles), 13:48. Penalties – Topping, Tri (cross checking), 3:32. Kambetiz, Sea (high-sticking), 10:23. Mychan, Tri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:23. Wardley, Sea (major-fighting), 15:47. Williams, Tri (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 15:47.

Third period – 7, Seattle, Lockhart 22 (Delnov, Lipsbergs), 12:12. 8, Tri-City, Yuen 8 (Lee-Knight), 18:53. Penalties – Hickman, Sea (holding), 9:01. Yuen, Tri (cross checking), 15:57.

Shots on goal – Seattle 5-10-13 28, Tri-City 17-5-9 31. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 30 shots-26 saves (21-27-5-1); Tri-City, Lee-Knight 28-25 (11-8-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Tri-City 0-5. A – 4,314. Referees – Tyler Adair, Steve Papp. Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Bevan Mills.