Hughes Holds Off Americans In Shootout

T-Birds goalie makes 48 saves in 3-2 shootout win over Tri-City

KENT, February 6, 2018 — Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Liam Hughes made 48 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped four of five shooters in the shootout Tuesday night to lead the T-Birds to a 3-2 shootout win over the Tri-City Americans at accesso ShoWare Center.

Hughes had 16 saves in the first period, 14 saves in the second period, 16 saves in the third period and two saves in overtime. Hughes improves his record to 10-6-2-1.

Hughes helped the T-Birds kill off an Americans power play to end overtime. The Americans had 1:42 of power play time and Hughes made several good saves to get the game to a shootout.

In the shootout Noah Philp was the first T-Birds shooter. Philp skated towards Tri-City goalie Beck Warm, made two moves and beat the goalie over the glove with a backhand shot. Morgan Geekie was the Americans first shooter and he skated down at Hughes, faked a wrist shot and then lost control of the puck and it slide wide right of the net.

Austin Strand the T-Birds second shooter was stopped by Warm while Jordan Topping the Americans second shooter missed the net on his attempt.

Donovan Neuls came up third and was stopped on a backhand attempt by Warm. Parker AuCoin scored on his attempt to send the shootout to sudden death.

Zack Andrusiak was stopped by Warm on his attempt. Michael Rasmussen was the fourth Tri-City shooter and his shot went through Hughes legs and off the right post.

Nolan Volcan was the fifth Seattle shooter. He skated at Warm, made move and beat the goalie with a backhand shot high. Juuso Valimaki was the fifth Tri-City shooter. Valimaki skated at Hughes and in the low slot stuck faked putting his stick between his legs, brought the puck back to his backhand and Hughes made a glove save to secure the win.

The T-Birds travel to Vancouver to take on the Giants on Friday at 7:30pm. The T-Birds are home at accesso ShoWare Center on Saturday at 6:05pm to play the Portland Winterhawks. They travel to Portland on Sunday for a 5:05pm game against the Winterhawks.

Tri-City (27-17-7-1) took a 1-0 lead at 10:57 of the first period on a goal by Nolan Yaremko. Juuso Valimaki and Isaac Johnson had the assists.

Seattle (27-18-5-2) tied game 1-1 at 17:37 of the first. Jaxan Kaluski centered the puck from the right circle. Blake Bargar took a shot that Warm stopped. Neuls cleaned up the rebound and put the puck past Warm at the right post for his 19^th goal of the year.

The Americans outshot the T-Birds 18-10 in the first period.

The T-Birds went in front 2-1 at the 14-minute mark of the second period with a shorthanded goal. Volcan won a battle for the puck along the left boards in the Seattle zone. Volcan skated through the neutral zone and came into the Americans zone on the right wing. Volcan skated through the right circle and then cut into the low slot. Volcan waited out Warm and beat the goalie at the left post. Turner Ottenbreit and Matthew Wedman had the assists.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 14-11 in the second period and led 31-21 in shots after two periods.

Tri-City tied the game 2-2 with 1:45 left in the third period when Geekie scored from the slot. Topping and AuCoin had the assists.

Seattle outshot Tri-City 19-17 in the third period. Both teams had two shots in overtime.

Warm had 40 saves on 42 shots and his record is now 13-7-1-1.

T-Birds single game tickets for the 2017-18 season are currently on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.

Season Tickets for the WHL Champion T-Birds 2017-18 season are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Tri-City, Yaremko 17 (Valimaki, Johnson), 10:57. 2, Seattle, Neuls 19 (Bargar, Kaluski), 17:37. Penalties – MacLean, Sea (hooking), 7:05. Volcan, Sea (high-sticking), 19:40.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Volcan 25 (Ottenbreit, Wedman), 14:00 (sh). Penalties – Andrusiak, Sea (hooking), 12:05. Mutala, Tri (tripping), 14:54.

Third period – 4, Tri-City, Geekie 20 (Topping, AuCoin), 18:15. Penalties – Strand, Sea (hooking), 3:24. Bishop, Tri (tripping), 10:21.

Overtime – No scoring. Penalties – Wedman, Sea (tripping), 3:18.

Shootout – Seattle 1 (Philp G, Strand NG, Neuls NG, Andrusiak NG, Volcan G). Tri-City 1 (Geekie NG, Topping NG, AuCoin G, Rasmussen NG, Valimaki NG).

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-11-19-2-1 51, Tri-City 18-14-17-2-0 42. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 50 shots-48 saves (10-6-2-1); Tri-City, Warm 42-40 (13-7-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Tri-City 0-5. A – 4,152. Referees – Mike Campbell, Troy Paterson. Linesmen – Trevor Beaton, Nathan Van Oosten.