Seattle Scores Six Straight, Spoils Tri-City’s Teddy Bear Night

Kennewick, WA- All good streaks must come to an end.

The Tri-City Americans (17-11-1-1, 36 pts) snapped a 22 game home win streak against the Seattle Thunderbirds (15-13-1-0, 31 pts), falling 8-4 in front of 4,518 at the Toyota Center on Teddy Bear Toss Night.

The eight goals are the most scored on the Americans this season. The 22 game streak started in February 2008 and came to an end tonight.

The Toyota Center didn’t get to throw the teddy bears on the first goal because it was scored by Seattle. Seth Swenson scooted through the defense and got a backhand shot into the net for a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. But the teddy bears didn’t have to wait long to be thrown, as Parker Bowles scored on a 2-on-1 to even the score at one and the rain of stuffed animals flooded the ice and were promptly collected by the Americans. And before the end of the period, the Americans would take the lead, as Brian Williams would score with 23 seconds left in the period to make it 2-1. Tri-City outshot the Thunderbirds 16-5 in the period, creating more opportunities to help give them a lead after one.

The second period was full of action, including five fights. Seattle would come back to tie it midway through the second period as Brendan Rouse passed it to Luke Lockhart all alone in the slot, who fired a slap shot into the net for a shorthanded goal to tie the game at two. But the Americans would capitalize on the power play as Malte Strömwall would score to give the Americans the lead again 3-2. And the Americans would increase the lead to two a minute later as Beau McCue would fire a shot that deflected off of a Thunderbird into the goal.

But Seattle would cut the lead back to one after Swenson put home a rebound in front of the net for his second goal of the game. Towards the end of the period, Roberts Lipsbergs would snipe the top left corner of the goal on the power play to tie the game. Seattle wasn’t done, as they took the lead again on a Connor Sanvido wrist shot with just over a minute remaining in the period. Seattle outshot Tri-City 16-12 in the period and held a 5-4 lead after two periods.

Seattle would increase the lead to two early in the third as Alexander Delnov fired a shot through the legs of Eric Comrie to make it 6-4. Seattle would continue to pour it on as Riley Sheen would score midway through the period to make it 7-4. Tri-City fought to get back into the game, but to no avail as Sanvido would score an empty net shorthanded goal to cap off the win.

With a goal tonight, McCue has a three game point streak.

Comrie had a night to forget, giving up a career high seven goals against while making 26 saves in the loss. Seattle goalie Brandon Glover made 34 stops in the win.

The Americans have to shake off the loss quickly as they travel tomorrow to take on the Portland Winterhawks (23-4-1-0, 47 pts) in the Rose Garden. Game time is at 7:00 p.m. Portland has won the previous two meetings this season, including a 6-0 victory in Portland. NewsTalk 870 will broadcast the game beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show. WHL Live will stream the game starting at 7:00 p.m.

Jack in the Box Three Stars:
1. Seth Swenson, Seattle
2. Connor Sanvido, Seattle
3. Brian Williams, Tri-City

Notes: The Teddy Bear Toss collected 2,649 stuffed animals to donate to charities in the Mid-Columbia.