WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

Americans beat T-Birds in dramatic game five

Published on March 31, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Kennewick, WA, March 30, 2007 - The Seattle Thunderbirds never gave up in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Tri-City Americans Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

The T-Birds were down two goals to the Americans with under two minutes to play in the game but scored twice with goalie Derek Yeomans on the bench for an extra attacker to send the game to overtime.

The tying goal came off the stick of Bud Holloway with six seconds left in the game.

The Americans won the game 5-4 in overtime though when Juraj Valach scored a power-play goal off an assist from Matt Swaby at 12:59 of the extra period. Seattle has a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 6 Saturday night at KeyArena at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for Game 6 went on sale immediately upon the conclusion of Game 5. Tickets may be purchased online at www.seattlethunderbirds.com or by calling 206 628 0888. The KeyArena's East & West Box Office as well as the Hockey Store in Kirkland will open at 10 a.m. Saturday for Game 6 tickets. Tickets are also available at all Fred Meyer/Ticketmaster Outlets beginning Saturday morning.

Holloway scored the tying goal with six seconds left in the game. Jan Eberle kicked the puck out of the right corner to Scott Jackson in the right circle. Jackson put a hard wrist shot on goal that rebounded to Holloway to the left of the goal. Holloway controlled the rebound and then put the puck back past Price at 19:54 of the third period.

Aaron Gagnon scored an unassisted goal at 18:49 of the third to get the T-Birds in position to try and tie the game. Gagnon curled out from behind the Tri- City goal and put a wrist shot on goal through traffic that beat Americans goalie Carey Price. Yeomans was on the bench when Gagnon scored.

Tri-City took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Michael Kaye at 8:22 of the first period. Colton Yellow Horn and Roman Teslyuk had the assists.

Tri-City (2-3) outshot Seattle 15-12 in the first period.

The Americans took a 2-0 lead at 1:35 of the second period on a goal by Taylor Procyshen. Erik Felde and Swaby had the assists.

Americans forward Aaron Boogaard received a five- minute major penalty for charging 4:32 into the second.

The T-Birds capitalized on the major penalty when Gagnon scored a power-play goal at 5:17 of the second. Thomas Hickey had the puck at the left point. He skated around a Tri-City defender and put a wrist shot on goal with Gagnon in front of the net. Gagnon poked the rebound past Tri-City goalie Carey Price for his first goal of the playoffs.

Colton Yellow Horn scored a four-on-four goal at 8:49 of the second to make it a 3-1 Americans lead. T.J. Fast had the only assist on the goal.

Alex Aldred scored a shorthanded goal at 14:36 of the second to give the Americans a 4-1 lead. Swaby had the assist on the goal.

Seattle cut the Americans lead to two goals when Hickey scored a power-play goal at 18:39 of the second. Brett Robertson brought the puck off the left boards and fed Hickey in the high slot. Hickey blasted a slap shot that beat Price high. It was Hickey's second goal in the playoffs.

Seattle outshot Tri-City 19-7 in the second period and led 31-22 in total shots going into the second intermission.

After Gagnon's goal with 1:11 left in the game the T- Birds almost tied the game on a Gagnon breakaway. He came in all alone with just under a minute left in the game but Price denied the T-Birds captain.

The T-Birds outshot the Americans 16-3 in the third period and had a 47-25 advantage after three periods.

The T-Birds outshot the Americans 50-34 in the game.

Yeomans (3-2) made 29 saves on 34 shots.

Price (2-3) made 46 saves on 50 shots.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2007


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