McKenzie's hat trick lifts T-Birds in series opener

KENNEWICK -- Having nine days off did little to help the Tri-City Americans.

Ian McKenzie scored three times and Riku Helenius made 29 saves as the Seattle Thunderbirds embarrassed the rusty Americans 7-1 to open their WHL Western Conference semifinal series Friday night.

The game was a rare black mark for the U.S. Division-champion Americans, who had won nine in a row and swept Kamloops in the first round of the playoffs.

"That wasn't our best game and they were terrific tonight," said Tri-City coach Don Nachbaur, whose team lost to Seattle in the first round last year and in 2005. "They were way sharper mentally, and we made some blatant errors with the puck that cost us."

Scott Jackson added a pair of goals for the T-Birds, while Bud Holloway and Lindsay Nielsen also scored.

T.J. Fast had a power-play goal for the Americans, who host Game 2 Saturday before the series shifts to Seattle for Games 3 and 4 at KeyArena.

Tri-City goalie Chet Pickard had 22 saves before being pulled early in the third period.

McKenzie put the T-Birds up 1-0 at 11:55 of the first period when he scored from the left circle off assists from Jeremy Boyer and Jan Eberle.

McKenzie then made it 2-0 on a power play at 15:14. Jim O'Brien sent the puck from the hash marks on the left side to David Richard at the center point. Richard put a slap shot on goal that deflected off a Tri-City defender to McKenzie in front of the net, and McKenzie beat Pickard with a quick shot.

Holloway scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 9:48 of the second period, stealing the puck and beating Pickard with a backhand shot.

After Fast spoiled Helenius' shutout bid, Seattle restored its three-goal lead at 14:07 of the second. Tri-City attempted to clear the puck on the left side, but Jackson held it at the left point. He put a slap shot on goal with traffic in front of Pickard and beat the goalie low for his first goal of the playoffs.

THUNDERBIRDS

VS. AMERICANS

SERIES SCHEDULE

All games at 7:05 p.m.

Game 1: Seattle 7, at Tri-City 1

Game 2: at Tri-City, Saturday

Game 3: at Seattle, Tuesday

Game 4: at Seattle, Wednesday

*Game 5: at Tri-City, April 11

*Game 6: at Seattle, April 12

*Game 7: at Tri-City, April 15

*If necessary