The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime Friday night at the ShoWare Center.
Jordan Topping scored 42 seconds into overtime to win the Western Hockey League game for the Americans.
Seattle goalie Logan Flodell had 31 saves on 34 shots and his record falls to 11-7-3-0.
The T-Birds and Americans meet at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
Tri-City (14-18-1-0) took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Beau McCue at 6:53 of the second period. McCue banged in the rebound of his own shot to get the Americans in front. Brian Williams and Parker Bowles had the assists.
Seattle (18-11-3-0) tied the game 1-1 at 10:09 of the second on a power-play goal from Jerret Smith. Ryan Gropp passed the puck to Ethan Bear at center ice inside the blue line. Bear took a slap shot that rebounded off the end boards to Smith at the left post. Smith slammed the puck high over Tri-City goalie Nicholas Sanders for his fourth goal of the season.
Seattle led 21-20 in shots after two periods as each team had 10 shots in the period.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 8:36 of the third period. Keegan Kolesar moved the puck to Nick Holowko to create a two-on-one break with Donovan Neuls. Holowko skated down the left wing and at the bottom of the left circle crossed the puck to Neuls who beat Sanders low.
The Americans tied the game 2-2 at 15:08 of the third. Bowles snuck the puck through Flodell’s legs on a scramble in front of the Seattle net. Jusso Valimaki and Topping had the assists.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 12-8 in the period and 34-29 in the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – No scoring. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (high-sticking), 2:28. James, Tri (tripping), 4:33. Tyszka, Sea (holding), 7:33. Bowles, Tri (roughing), 8:59. Rutledge, Tri (delay of game), 15:38.
Second period – 1, Tri-City, McCue 11 (Williams, Bowles), 6:53 (pp). 2, Seattle, Smith 4 (Bear, Gropp), 10:09 (pp). Penalties – Playfair, Tri (goaltender interference), :26. Gropp, Sea (high-sticking), :53. Ottenbreit, Sea (cross checking), 6:17. Ottenbreit, Sea (interference), 7:31. Topping, Tri (slashing), 8:22. Smith, Sea (hooking), 18:42.
Third period – 3, Seattle, Neuls 4 (Holowko, Kolesar), 8:36. 4, Tri-City, Bowles 19 (Valimaki, Topping), 15:08. Penalties – Schuldhaus, Sea (major-fighting), 5:13. Roy, Tri (major-fighting), 5:13. Uhrich, Sea (checking to the head, roughing), 6:30. Playfair, Tri (double minor-roughing), 6:30.
Overtime – 5, Tri-City, Topping 10 (Bowles, Wotherspoon), :42. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-10-8-0 29, Tri-City 10-10-12-3 34. Goalies – Seattle, Flodell 34 shots-31 saves (11-7-3-0); Tri-City, Sanders 29-27 (2-1-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Tri-City 1-6. A – 3,171. Referees – Curtis Marouelli, Nick Swaine. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Al Creigh.
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