Americans Defeat T-Birds in Last Regular Season Game
March 18, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENNEWICK - The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick in the last regular season game for both teams.
The T-Birds finish the 2017-18 season with a 34-28-8-2 record and are the second wild card playoff team in the Western Conference. The T-Birds will play the Everett Silvertips in the first round of the playoffs.
The T-Birds will play Game 1 of a first round best-of-seven series on Friday, March 23, at Everett at 7:35pm. Game 2 of this first round series will be Saturday, March 24, at Everett at 7:05pm.
The T-Birds first home playoff game against Everett is Tuesday, March 27, at 7:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center. This game will be a Directors Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday game that will feature two-for-one tickets and beers and $2 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, and $2 soda.
Single game tickets for Game 3 currently on sale. Single game playoff tickets can be purchased on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office. The accesso ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday game days at noon.
Game 4 of the first round will be Friday, March 30, at accesso ShoWare Center at 7:35pm.
First Round Schedule
Everett vs. Seattle
Game 1 Seattle @ Everett Friday, March 23 7:35pm
Game 2 Seattle @ Everett Saturday, March 24 7:05pm
Game 3 Everett @ Seattle Tuesday, March 27 7:05pm
Game 4 Everett @ Seattle Friday, March 30 7:35pm
Game 5 Seattle @ Everett Saturday, March 31 7:05pm*
Game 6 Everett @ Seattle Tuesday, April 3 7:05pm*
Game 7 Seattle @ Everett Wednesday, April 4 7:05pm*
*if necessary
The 2017 WHL Champion T-Birds have a Group Ticket Special for Game 4 of the first round of the 2018 WHL Playoffs. Fans can purchase 10 tickets for just $220 and get two FREE tickets.
- You will save $179 when you purchase 10 tickets.
- Tickets are regularly $33.25 for the best seats. You will get them for $22 each.
- You will avoid all service charges.
- You will receive two (2) FREE tickets for putting together a group of family and friends.
- You will receive $10 worth of FREE Chuck a Pucks.
- You will receive scoreboard recognition.
- You will have a great night cheering on the defending WHL Champions
This Playoff Group Ticket Special is available by contacting us at 253-239-PUCK (7825).
This Group Ticket Specials is NOT AVAILABLE ON GAME DAY. They are advance purchase only.
Tri-City (38-25-8-1) went in front 1-0 at 3:55 of the first period on a goal from Nolan Yaremko. Jake Bean and Kyle Olson had the assists.
The T-Birds answered back quickly when Zack Andrusiak scored at 5:06 of the first. Sami Moilanen threw the puck on net from the right corner. The puck rebounded to Zack and he snuck it past Tri-City goalie Patrick Dea for his 36th goal of the season. Austin Strand had the second assist.
The Americans took a 2-1 lead at 13:41 of the second period on a goal from Jake Bean off assists from Yaremko and Dan Gatenby.
Yaremko scored a second goal, with nine seconds left in the second, to put the Americans in front 3-1. Juuso Valimaki and Jordan Topping had the assists.
Seattle cut the Americans lead to one goal at 7:13 of the third period on an unassisted shorthanded breakaway goal by Dillon Hamaliuk. Hamaliuk skated right to left through the low slot and beat Tri-City goalie Beck Warm low on the stick side.
Tri-City took the two-goal lead back at 7:57 of the third on a goal by Parker AuCoin. Morgan Geekie had the only assist.
AuCoin scored a second goal at 15:10 of the third period to get the Americans fifth goal. Valimaki had the only assist.
Tri-City outshot Seattle 42-20 in the game.
Seattle goalie Dorrin Luding had 37 saves on 42 shots and his record finishes at 9-15-1-0.
Dea played 32 minutes and had nine saves on 10 shots. Warm played 28 minutes and had nine saves on 10 shots.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Tri-City, Yaremko 21 (Bean, Olson), 3:55. 2, Seattle, Andrusiak 36 (Moilanen, Strand), 5:36. Penalties - Moilanen, Sea (double minor-slew footing), 6:36. Valimaki, Tri (high-sticking), 15:38. Hamaliuk, Sea (interference), 16:53.
Second period - 3, Tri-City, Bean 12 (Yaremko, Gatenby), 13:41. 4, Tri-City, Yaremko 22 (Valimaki, Topping), 19:51. Penalties - Lee, Sea (roughing), 3:02. Huo, Sea (roughing), 3:02. McNelly, Sea (slashing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 3:02. Sawchuk, Tri (roughing), 3:02. Sawchuk, Tri (double minor-roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 3:02. Bjorklund, Tri (roughing), 3:02. Tyszka, Sea (roughing), 19:51. Olson, Sea (roughing), 19:51.
Third period - 5, Seattle, Hamaliuk 15, 7:13 (sh). 6, Tri-City, AuCoin 18 (Geekie), 7:57 (pp). 7, Tri-City, AuCoin 19 (Valimaki), 15:10. Penalties - Lee, Sea (high sticking), 4:23. MacLean, Sea (tripping), 6:26. Tyszka, Sea (double minor-cross checking), 8:12. OIson, Tri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:12. Gatenby, Tri (tripping), 10:54. MacLean, Sea (cross checking), 13:19. Bouchard, Tri (10-minute misconduct), 19:49.
Shots on goal - Seattle 7-5-8 20, Tri-City 13-11-18 42. Goalies - Seattle, Luding 42 shots-37 saves (9-15-1-0); Tri-City, Dea 10-9 (23-14-7-0), Warm 10-9. Power plays - Seattle 0-2; Tri-City 2-8. A - 3,708. Referees - Mike Campbell, Mark Pearce. Linesmen - Ron Dietterle, Michael McGowan.
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