Americans Drop Fifth Straight With 2-1 Loss To Seattle
Published on February 14, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
Kennewick, WA - The Tri-City Americans (25-23-3-1) poured on the pressure over the final 39 minutes of the game but couldn't find the equalizer in a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds (21-23-4-3) Saturday night.
Seattle came out flying offensively, firing pucks on goal from all angles to take a big lead on the shot clock. At one point in the game the shots read 11-1 Thunderbirds, but despite that, it was Tri-City opening the scoring.
Jake Gudelj took a pass on right wing off the rush and let a shot go, catching Thunderbirds goaltender Marek Sklenicka off his angle, and scoring his eighth of the season 14:25 into the game.
Shortly after the Americans went to their third power play of the period, but Seattle took advantage. After the puck was turned over in the Seattle zone, the Thunderbirds took off on a two-on-one rush.
Coster Dunn gained the Americans line on right wing before floating the puck toward the front of the net where it went off the skate of Antonio Martorana and through the five hole of Ryan Grout, tying the game at one with 2:22 left in the period.
The opening 20 minutes ended with the game tied at one and the shots 13-3 Seattle.
Much like the night before, the Thunderbirds scored in the first minute of period two. Off a faceoff win in the Americans zone Cameron Schmidt fed the puck to Radim Mrtka in the right circle.
Mrtka then passed to the slot where Matej Pekar was all alone, and Pekar fired the puck into an open net to put Seattle ahead 2-1 just 27 seconds into the period.
The Americans killed off their only penalty of the game shortly after the goal and went to their fourth power play of the game late in the period but trailed 2-1 heading into the final frame. Shots were 22-12 Seattle after 40 minutes.
The Americans were the better team for long stretches of the third, pouring on the pressure trying to find the equalizer. They went to their fifth and final power play of the game with 6:32 remaining as Seattle was called for too many men, but once again couldn't take advantage to tie the game.
With Grout on the bench for the extra attacker in the final minute, Cruz Pavao nearly tied the game as a quick from the left circle hit the goal post on the glove side of Sklenicka, but that was close as the Americans would get in the 2-1 loss.
The Americans look to avoid a sixth loss in a row when they travel up to meet the Kelowna Rockets (28-18-5-2) Monday afternoon at 2:05.
Announced attendance was 5,269.
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