WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

Rybinski and Roulette Combine to Push T-Birds Past Americans in Overtime

Published on December 18, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENNEWICK - The line of Conner Roulette, Henrik Rybinski and Keltie Jeri-Leon combined for seven points Tuesday night at the Toyota Center.

The final two points of that seven were Roulette assisting Rybinski as he scored at 2:39 of overtime to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 4-3 win over the Tri-City Americans.

Roulette gathered the puck along the left wing boards in the defensive zone and sprinted up the ice to create a two-on-one with Rybinski. At the top of the left circle Roulette crossed the puck to Rybinski to put him in alone against Tri-City goalie Beck Warm. Rybinski beat Warm high on the glove side.

Roulette has three goals and four assists in his last four games.

The T-Birds have won two games in a row and have wins in three of their last four games. Seattle has a 12-17-2-1 record and are one point behind Tri-City (12-14-3-1) for the final wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The team now takes a nine-day break for the holidays and will return to action on Friday, December 27, against the Spokane Chiefs at 7:35pm at accesso ShoWare Center. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead at 6:34 of the first period on Jeri-Leon's team leading 10th goal of the season. Roulette had the puck behind the Americans net and made a smooth backhand pass to Jeri-Leon in the low slot. Jeri-Leon beat Warm past an outstretched left leg. Rybinski had the second assist.

Roulette put the T-Birds up 2-0 at 15:15 of the first. Defenseman Luke Bateman kept a Jeri-Leon pass in the offensive zone and then set up for a slap shot. Roulette was all alone in the slot with his stick on the ice and tipped Bateman's slap shot up and over Warm for his ninth goal of the season.

Tri-City got on the board when Sasha Mutala scored with 15 seconds left in the first.

The Americans tied the game 2-2 at 17:32 of the second period.

Jared Davidson gave the T-Birds a 3-2 lead at 9:49 of the third period. Davidson had the puck on the right wing boards and wristed it on net. Davidson's shot beat Warm on the short side. Andrej Kukuca and Bateman had the assists on Davidson's third goal of the season.

Paycen Bjorklund tied the game 3-3 for the Americans at 13:56 of the third.

Seattle goalie Roddy Ross had 19 saves and his record is now 10-12-2-1.

The T-Birds Holiday Premium Voucher Package is NOW available. 12 Flexible Vouchers valid for any home game from January 11, 2020, to March 21, 2020, are only $23 a voucher, which is a savings of almost 20%. There are no service charges or other fees to purchase our Holiday Premium Voucher Package. Fans can contact the T-Birds at 253-239-PUCK (7825) to purchase a Holiday Premium Voucher Package or purchase the package online.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period - 1, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 10 (Roulette, Rybinski), 6:34. 2, Seattle, Roulette 9 (Bateman, Jeri-Leon), 15:15. Penalties - Gottfried, Sea (holding), 2:32. Bowman, Tri (high-sticking), 7:14.

Second period - 4, Tri-City, Lajoie 4 (Mutala), 17:32. Penalties - Mutala, Tri (delay of game), :38. Ferguson, Tri (interference), 8:06. Mutala, Tri (tripping), 15:20. Rybinski, Sea (interference), 19:07. Zazula, Tri (embellishment), 19:07.

Third period - 5, Seattle, Davidson 3 (Kukuca, Bateman), 9:49. 6, Tri-City, Bjorklund 6 (Zazula), 13:56. Penalties - No penalties.

Overtime - 7, Seattle, Rybinski 6 (Roulette), 2:39. Penalties - No penalties.

Shots on goal - Seattle 9-17-14-4 44, Tri-City 9-7-6-0 22. Goalies - Seattle, Ross 22 shots-19 saves (10-12-2-1); Tri-City, Warm 44-40 (8-13-2-1). Power plays - Seattle 0-4; Tri-City 0-1. Referees - Brett Iverson, Corey Koop. Linesmen - Rance Hughes, Josh Long.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2019


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