Tri-City fell 6-5 Sunday afternoon in Kent to the Seattle Thunderbirds after a four-goal third period. This helped Seattle keep their playoff hopes alive while officially ending the Tri-City Americans’ playoff hopes.
Tri-City started off on the right foot in Seattle, opening scoring at 9:25 in the first period after an incredible effort by Brandon Whynott.
Whynott netted his fifteenth goal of the season after pickpocketing Thunderbird defenseman Jeremy Hanzel at the blue line. Whynott skated in on a breakaway and went backhand, sneaking the puck by Seattle goalie Spencer Michnik’s glove.
After a period of play, the Americans somehow escaped with a 1-0 lead after Seattle barraged Tri-City with numerous opportunities in the first period. Shots were 12-8 in favor of Seattle.
Calgary Flames prospect Parker Bell got his twenty-ninth goal of the season and doubled the Americans lead at 7:25 in the second period on a shorthanded breakaway.
Brandon Whynott fed Parker Bell, who burst away at center ice from Seattle defenders using his elite speed. Bell then walked in alone and fired a wrister at Spencer Michnik. Michnik slowly trickled back, sinking into the net along with the puck, and after a review, it was deemed a good goal.
Just under halfway through the second period at 9:55, Brandon Whynott would add his second goal of the game to make it 3-0 after tipping the puck out net-front off of a Sloan wrist shot from the blue line and make it his third multi-goal game of the season.
Seattle would get their first goal of the contest just 18 seconds after the Whynott goal.
Jordan Gustafson of Seattle poked the puck from the trap to Nico Myatovic out net-front. Myatovic’s patience paid off as he skated around the sprawled-out Tri-City goalie Kyle Kelsey and tossed it by Kelsey’s stick to make it a two-goal game.
Seattle would pull themselves within one goal with just a minute remaining in the second period.
Nathan Pilling of Seattle set up Jordan Gustafson at the right faceoff circle. Gustafson snapped a wrist shot quickly and went glove side and top-shelf on Kyle Kelsey, causing an eruption among the Seattle faithful in the crowd.
After two full periods, Seattle were ahead in shots 29-19, and Tri-City held a one-goal lead by a score of 3-2 heading into the third period.
Seattle exploded, scoring two goals just a minute into the third period to get their first lead of the night after clawing back from a three goal deficit.
Nico Myatovic scored his second goal of the game and tied the game just twenty seconds into the third period. From beyond the right circle, Myatovic fired a wrist-shot prayer and snuck the puck between the mask and glove of Kyle Kelsey to make it 3-3.
The second goal came from Owen Boucher, who made it his second goal of the season. Sam Popowich attempted a wrap-around effort saved by the pad of the sprawled-out Kyle Kelsey. Owen Boucher quickly skated in, cleaned up the garbage, and banged the loose puck home.
Jake Sloan would tie the game up again halfway through the third period at 10:38.
Sloan skated in on the right side and was being heavily pressured by two Thunderbird players. Sloan then fired a wrister from the right circle that went bardown on Michnik to make it 4-4.
How things can change so quickly in this beautiful game, Tri-City snapped the lead right back up a minute after Sloan’s game-tying goal.
Jordan Gavin walked around from behind the net and found Parker Bell uncovered in the slot. Bell took his time and fired a wrister at a crowded net covered by Thunderbird players. The puck scrapped through everyone, and it was 5-4 Tri-City just like that.
The back and fourth game continued, and Seattle tied the game yet again to add on to the chaotic third period.
At 13:48 in the third, Nico Myatovic completed the hat trick. Sam Popowich poked the puck out net-front, and Myatovic came barreling in and banged home a one-timer from close quarters.
Simon Lovsin scored a beautiful goal to get Seattle back out in front at 14:05 in the third period.
Lovsin turned on the boosters at center ice, skating around Carter MacAdams and walking in on the left circle. Lovsin went forehand, causing Kelsey to swing to the other side of the crease before quickly going backhand and essentially tossing the puck into an empty net to make it 6-5 Seattle.
With a minute remaining, Andrew Fan of Tri-City would get called for a high-sticking penalty where Seattle would then close out the chaotic third period and live to see another day in the WHL Playoff Race.
With their loss, Tri-City is officially eliminated from WHL Playoff contention and moves to 22-37-2-1 on the season. Tri-City will now drive north for a Tuesday night tilt against the Vancouver Giants. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 