T-birds lose in overtime

KENNEWICK — After scoring two goals in the final 71 seconds of regulation, the Seattle Thunderbirds lost to the Tri-City Americans 5-4 in overtime Friday, missing an opportunity to close out their first-round WHL playoff series.

The best-of-seven series returns to KeyArena tonight with the T-birds leading 3-2.

Trailing 4-2 with 1:30 left, Seattle pulled goaltender Derek Yeomans for an extra attacker. Aaron Gagnon scored 19 seconds later, his second goal of the game. Then, with 6 seconds to go, Bud Holloway forced overtime with his second goal.

In overtime, Juraj Valach scored at the 12:59 mark to extend Tri-City's season.

From team reports.

Seattle vs. Tri-City

Seattle leads best-of-7 first-round series 3-2 (all games on KKNW, 1150 AM)
Date	Result
March 23	Seattle 2, Tri-City 0
March 24	Tri-City 2, Seattle 1
March 27	Seattle 3, Tri-City 1
Wednesday	Seattle 2, Tri-City 0
Friday	Tri-City 5, Seattle 4 OT
Date	Site, time
Saturday	At Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday	At Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.*
* If necessary

TRI-CITY 5, THUNDERBIRDS 4 (OT)

Seattle	0 2 2 0 — 4
Tri-City	1 3 0 1 — 5

First — 1. Tri-City, Kaye 1 (Teslyuk, Yellow Horn) 8:22 (pp). Second — 2. Tri-City, Procyshen 2 (Felde, Swaby) 1:35; 3. Seattle, Gagnon 1 (Hickey, Holloway) 5:17 (pp); 4. Tri-City, Yellow Horn 1 (Fast) 8:49; 5. Tri-City, Aldred 1 (Swaby) 14:36 (sh); 6. Seattle, Hickey 2 (Robertson) 18:39 (pp). Third — 7. Seattle, Gagnon 2 18:49; 8. Seattle, Holloway 2 (Jackson, Eberle) 19:54. Overtime — 9. Tri-City, Valach 1 (Swaby) 12:59 (pp). Shots on goal by — Seattle 12-19-16-3 — 50; Tri-City 15-7-3-9 — 34. Goal — Seattle: Yeomans (L,3-2); Tri-City: Price (W,2-3). Power plays (goals-chances) — Seattle: 2-8; Tri-City: 2-6. A — 3,683.