It was a Valentine’s Day celebration at the Toyota Center, but there was little love to be found on the ice for the Tri-City Americans.

Tri-City dropped their fifth straight game Saturday night, falling 2-1 to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second game of a doubleheader. With the loss, the Americans have now been swept in back-to-back weekend doubleheaders and continue to slide in the Western Conference standings.

First Period

Seattle carried over momentum from the previous night, controlling play early and limiting Tri-City to just one shot through the first media timeout. Shots favored the Thunderbirds 9-1 out of the gate, setting the tone for much of the night.

Despite being hemmed in, Tri-City struck first.

With 5:35 remaining in the opening frame, Jake Gudelj capitalized on just the Americans’ second shot of the evening. Savin Virk carried the puck through center and dropped it to Gudelj on the right wing. From the top of the circle, Gudelj beat netminder Simon Zajicek far side, finding the back post for his eighth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

The momentum, however, didn’t last.

Tri-City’s struggling power play continued to falter, and it proved costly. During the Americans’ third man-advantage of the period, Seattle’s Antonio Martorana broke free on a shorthanded breakaway. While being pressured from behind and tripped on the play, Martorana slid a five-hole finish past Ryan Grout before tumbling through the crease. After review, the goal stood — Martorana’s third of the weekend — knotting the game at one.

After one period, Seattle led the shot count 13-3. Tri-City had generated little sustained offense and failed to record a shot on three power-play opportunities.

Second Period

Grout kept Tri-City within striking distance early, but Seattle needed just 27 seconds in the second to take the lead.

Buffalo Sabres prospect Radim Mrtka fed Matej Pekar on the backdoor, and Pekar finished past a diving Grout to make it 2-1.

The Americans showed more push in the middle frame but couldn’t solve Seattle’s structure. Mason Mykichuk forced a turnover during a Thunderbirds breakout and sprung in alone for a partial breakaway, only to be denied.

Tri-City earned multiple chances on the power play — including one after Alexander Laing was high-sticked, with Brock England’s stick tangled in his visor — but again failed to capitalize.

Seattle’s penalty kill was dominant, allowing just one shot across four Tri-City power plays through two periods and took a 2-1 lead into the final frame.

Third Period

The Americans pressed hard in the final frame.

At the final media timeout, Tri-City went to a fifth power play after Seattle was called for too many men on the ice. Once again, the opportunity went unanswered.

Late in regulation with the net empty, Cruz Pavao nearly delivered the equalizer. Unmarked in the left circle, he fired a one-timer that rang iron — inches away from tying the game.

That was as close as it would get.

Seattle held on for the 2-1 victory, handing Tri-City its longest losing streak of the season.

Postgame / What’s Next

The Americans have now scored just two goals over their last three games. The power play finished 0-for-5 on the night, failing to register a shot on three opportunities and surrendering a backbreaking shorthanded goal.

Head coach Jody Hull didn’t mince words afterward:

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who is in the lineup. If we are not willing to compete and give an honest effort, we’re going to continue to lose games. It’s up to the guys in the locker room. We’ve pretty much tried everything — it simply comes down to willingness. We’re playing desperate teams, and we’re not desperate ourselves. We should be.”

Hull also addressed the power play struggles:

“It’s execution. We knew what was coming after last night, but we fed right into their hands. It’s frustrating. We just have to keep driving.”

The absence of Cash Koch continues to be noticeable, as the team searches for energy and consistency.

Tri-City now sits seventh in the Western Conference at 25-23-3-1, just two points ahead of Victoria in the playoff race.

There’s little time to dwell on the loss. The Americans will board the bus and head to Kelowna for a Monday afternoon matchup, looking to snap the skid and regain their footing.