Americans down Thunderbirds in OT, 4-3

The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in overtime Saturday night at the ShoWare Center.

Seattle went up 1-0 at 12:35 of the first period on pretty play by Seth Swenson and Connor Sanvido. Just as the T-Birds killed off a penalty Swenson got control of the puck just inside the Seattle blue line. Swenson skated up ice with Sanvido on his right and Justin Hickman coming out of the penalty box. Coming down the slot Swenson toe-dragged the puck past an Americans defender, faked left forcing Tri-City goalie Luke Lee-Knight to slide to his right. Then Swenson dropped the puck back to Sanvido who had a wide open net. Sanvido easily put the puck into the net for his 12th goal of the season.

The T-Birds outshot the Americans 11-6 in the first period.

Seattle (19-29-4-1) took a 2-0 lead at 10:59 of the second period on Jesse Forsberg’s fifth goal of the year. Riley Sheen sent the puck to Hickman behind the Americans net. Hickman passed it to the Forsberg at the left point. Forsberg skated towards the high slot and took a wrist shot with traffic in front of the net that beat Lee-Knight on the glove side.

Tri-City (31-19-1-2) cut the T-Birds lead to one goal when Parker Bowles scored at 12:31 of the second. Zachary Yuen and Justin Gutierrez had the assists.

The T-Birds led in shots, 30-16, after two periods by outshooting the Americans 19-10 in the second period.

The Americans tied the game 2-2 at 9:01 of the third period when Malte Stromwall scored. Drydn Dow and Parker Bowles had the assists.

Swenson put the T-Birds in front 3-2 at 14:27 of the third when he scored on a breakaway. Connor Honey got the puck at the Tri-City blue line and centered it to Swenson entering the zone alone. Swenson came down on Lee-Knight and beat him the glove side for the go-ahead goal.

Tri-City tied the game 3-3 at 18:27 when Justin Feser scored with Lee-Knight on the bench for an extra attacker. Both teams had a player in the penalty box, so the goal was scored in four-on-four situation with the goalie pulled. Mitch Topping had the only assist on the goal.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 11-5 in the third period but Seattle led 35-27 in total shots after regulation play.

Feser scored the game winner 27 seconds into the overtime when he put back a rebound. Stromwall and Dow had the assists.

Seattle outshot Tri-City 35-28 in the game.

Seattle goalie Brandon Glover made 24 saves on 28 shots and his record is now 18-21-4-1.

Lee-Knight stopped 32 of 35 shots and his record is now 10-5-0-0.

The T-Birds travel to Victoria to take on the Royals on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are at 7:05 p.m.

For T-Birds tickets, go online at the team website or visit 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. The T-Birds office is 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Sanvido 12 (Swenson), 12:35. Penalties – Gutierrez, Tri (interference), 5:14. Hickman, Sea (goaltender interference), 10:25. Elliot, Sea (boarding), 15:52.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Forsberg 5 (Hickman, Sheen), 10:59. 3, Tri-City, Bowles 17 (Yuen, Gutierrez), 12:31. Penalties – Wardley, Sea (major-fighting), 6:56. Walter, Tri (major-fighting), 6:56. Yuen, Tri (interference), 13:17

Third period – 4, Tri-City, Stromwall 16 (Dow, Bowles), 9:01. 5, Seattle, Swenson 15 (Honey, Kambeitz), 14:27. 6, Tri-City, Feser 28 (Topping), 18:27. Penalties – Elliot, Sea (cross checking), 1:25. Gutierrez, Tri (holding opponent’s stick), 5:16. Hauf, Sea (hooking), 17:12. Stromwall, Tri (hooking), 17:53.

Overtime – 7, Tri-City, Feser 29 (Stromwall, Dow), :27. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 11-19-5-0 35, Tri-City 6-10-11-1 28. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 28 shots-24 saves (18-21-4-1); Tri-City, Lee-Knight 35-32 (10-5-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Tri-City 0-4. A – 3,070. Referees – Pat Smith. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Nathan Van Oosten.