T-Birds knock down Americans 4-2 | WHL

For the Reporter

The Seattle Thunderbirds unleashed a season-high 46 shots on goal in defeating the Tri-City Americans 4-2 in Western Hockey League play Sunday night at the ShoWare Center.

The win moves the T-Birds’ record to 20-16-2-3, three points out of second place in the U.S. Division. Tri-City falls to 20-20-0-2.

Taran Kozun made 31 saves on 33 shots was enough to earn the win, improving to 18-11-2-3 on the season. Tri-City’s Evan Sarthou made 42 saves and took the loss. He is now 6-10-0-2.

The T-Birds built a 4-0 lead before giving up two late goals.

Shea Theodore gave Seattle the lead on their second power play of the game, coming just a minute after their first power play’s expiration. Theodore took a pass from Lane Pederson and skated into the faceoff circle. From there, the defenseman let loose with a cannon of a shot that beat Sarthou glove-side over the shoulder for Theodore’s fifth goal of the season. Ethan Bear had the secondary assist on the power-play goal coming at 10:10.

Alexander True made it a two-goal lead for Seattle at 3:51 of the second period. Theodore took the initial shot during another Seattle power play. True was screening the goalie and managed to redirect the puck past Sarthou. Theodore and Scott Eansor had the assists on the goal.

Theodore’s assist moved him into a tie for second place in T-Birds history for points by a defenseman.

Corey Millette made it 3-0 at 7:51, scoring his first goal as a T-Bird in his first game as one. Millette rushed to the net as Roberts Lipsbergs brought the puck up the wing. Lipsbergs’ centering pass hit Millette’s leg and bounced past Sarthou for the goal. The assist by Lipsbergs was also his first point of the season, coming in his second game.

Seattle’s fourth goal came from Nolan Volcan at 13:29 just after Volcan came onto the ice from a line change. Kaden Elder had the puck along the sideboards after a pass from Millette. Elder managed to get a pass across the ice to the top of the opposite faceoff circle where Volcan was waiting for a one-timer. Volcan’s goal was his fifth this season, with Elder and Millette getting the assists.

Next: Chiefs comes to Kent

Seattle is back in action at home on Tuesday, playing host to the Spokane Chiefs at 7:05 p.m. After that, the T-Birds travel to Kelowna to take on the Rockets ay 7:05 p.m. Friday.

Tickets are available 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.

Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Theodore 5 (Pederson, Bear), 10:10 (pp). Penalties – Comrie, Tri-City (holding), 6:07. Nejezchleb, Tri-City (slashing), 8:45. Osterman, Seattle (hooking),11:16.

Second period – 2, Seattle, True 6 (Theodore, Eansor), 3:51 (pp). 3, Seattle, Millette 9 (Lipsbergs), 7:51. 4, Seattle, Volcan 5 (Elder, Millette), 13:29. Penalties – Vickerman, Tri-City (high-sticking), 2:32. Topping, Tri-City (goaltender interference), 4:08. Hamonic, Tri-City (roughing), 4:28. Kolesar, Seattle (roughing), 4:28. Hamonic, Tri-City (major-fighting), 10:45. Kolesar, Seattle (major-fighting), 10:45. Nejezchleb, Tri-City (slashing), 18:26.

Third period – 5, Tri-City, Nickles 14 (Gutierrez), 9:50. 6, Tri-City, Nejezchleb 13 (McCue, Gutierrez), 18:22. Penalties – McCue, Tri-City (charging), 1:18.

Shots on goal – Seattle 20-18-8 46, Tri-City 6-11-16 33. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 33 shots-31 saves (18-11-2-3); Tri-City, Sarthou 46-42 (6-10-0-2). Power plays – Seattle 2-6; Tri-City 0-1. A – 3,602. Referees – Sean Raphael, Reid Anderson. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Nathan Van Oosten.