T-Birds Pick up Point against Tri-City

March 3, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release

KENT, Wash. - Coster Dunn scored his 20th goal of the season and the Seattle Thunderbirds earned a point in the standings in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Tri-City Americans Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center. The T-Birds play their fourth game in five days when they host the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Both teams were playing their third game of the weekend and head coach Matt O'Dette said it showed. "It was a little bit of a sloppy game from both sides," he remarked. "Our start was really good, really efficient, and then as the game went on, we fell off that path. I don't know if it was fatigue related, but we didn't make it easy on ourselves."

The game was scoreless through the first 39-minutes until Seattle (24-30-4-1) got on the board at 18:57 of the second period with Dunn's goal, assisted by Tai Riley and Antonio Martorana.

It stayed a 1-0 game until midway through the third period when the Americans capitalized on a power play to forge a tie. O'Dette said the slashing penalty that led to the tying goal was avoidable. "You can't give them extra opportunities in a game that tight," he commented. "We'll kill the penalties we need to kill, the ones where we're aggressive on the fore check, or saving a scoring chance, but the retaliatory stuff, a slash behind the play, those are the ones that bite you and it did tonight."

The game went to overtime where the T-Birds had a chance to win it only to fan on a shot with the Americans net open. Tri-City would pick up the loose puck and go the other way, scoring at 2:57 to end it.

The one point earned by the Thunderbirds gives them a three point cushion over the Wenatchee Wild, with a game in hand, in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Kamloops is six points back. "Any point is huge," explained O'Dette. "Disappointed we didn't get two, but we're scraping them together and now we get ready for a big one on Tuesday."

T-BIRDS EXTRAS

Tuesday's home game versus Kamloops will be the Thunderbirds last game against a non U.S. Division opponent.

In three games this weekend, Seattle's goalie (Scott Ratzlaff and Grayson Malinoski), turned aside 123 of 130 shots, for a .946 save percentage and a goals against average of 1.97.

In 22 games in 2025 the Thunderbirds are 13-7-2-0, earning 28 points.

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...

Western Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2025

• March 3 - Canes Chatter - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Rebels this Week - Red Deer Rebels
• Hauser's Historic Week Headlines WHL Weekly Awards - WHL
• Teydon Trembecky Named Player of the Week - Victoria Royals
• Tips Slay Giants with 4-2 Home Win in Front of Sellout - Everett Silvertips
• Silvertips Clinch Home-Ice Advantage with Clutch 2-1 Win over Seattle - Everett Silvertips
• Ratzlaff Stops 36 as Tips Fall in Kent 3-1 - Everett Silvertips
• Rymon Scores Twice in 4-1 Home Win over Portland - Everett Silvertips
• Winterhawks Weekly: Hawks Close in on Playoff Berth - Portland Winterhawks
• T-Birds Pick up Point against Tri-City - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Americans clinch playoff spot, Smith scores overtime winner against Thunderbirds - Tri-City Americans
• Hood, Leslie Lift Giants to Win over Wild - Vancouver Giants

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Seattle Thunderbirds Stories

• T-Birds Acquire Draft Picks in Trade with Red Deer
• T-Birds Season Comes to an End
• T-Birds Face Must Win Game Six
• T-Birds, 'Tips Tied at Two
• T-Birds Double up 'Tips in Game 3