For the Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Tri-City Americans shut out the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-0 Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The T-Birds return home to host the Portland Winterhawks at the ShoWare Center for the first time this season. Face-off is 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tri-City (17-13-0-1) took a 1-0 lead at 7:31 of the first period on a five-on-three power-play goal from Richard Nejezchleb. Nejezchleb beat Seattle goalie Taran Kozun from the right circle. Parker Bowles and Brandon Carlo had the assists.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Americans extended the lead to 2-0 on a power-play goal from Parker Bowles at 8:05 of the first. Beau McCue and Nejezchleb had the assists.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tri-City outshot Seattle 14-2 in the first period.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Seattle (13-14-2-2) outshot Tri-City 9-6 in the second period but the Americans led 20-11 in total shots after two periods.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Vladislav Lukin scored from the left circle on a wrist shot to give the Americans a 3-0 lead at 2:12 of the third period. Ty Comrie and Parker Wotherspoon had the assists.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The T-Birds pulled Kozun with just under three minutes left in the game. They got several good chances but were not able to break the shutout.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Lucas Nickles added an empty-net goal at 19:59 of the third for the Americans fourth goal. Brian Williams had the only assist.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tri-City outshot Seattle 26-17 in the game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kozun ended the night with 22 saves on 25 shots and his record is 12-9-2-2.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tri-City goalie Evan Sarthou stopped all 17shots he faced and he is now 3-3-0-1.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n