Kennewick, Wa. The Tri-City Americans (19-10-4-0, 42 pts.) and Portland Winterhawks (22-12-0-1, 45 pts.) are going to get real familiar with each other again. Playing in the tail end of a home-in-home, the teams will play each other another seven times during the second half of the season. They have met just three times so far including this game. Coming into tonight, they were two teams headed in two different directions. Tri-City had won four straight, including a 6-3 win in Portland just two nights ago, while Portland has dropped nine of their last eleven. A Tri-City win tonight in regulation would move the Americans into second place in the U.S. Division, and drop the Winterhawks to third.
There were plenty of chances, and few whistles during the opening frame. Both teams were moving the puck well, but both goaltenders, Patrick Dea for the Americans and Shane Farkas for Portland, stood firm. A penalty-less period, however, came to an end with just under a minute to play when Americans defenseman Dylan Coghlan was hit with a double-minor for high-sticking. Portland was unable to convert before the horn sounded, and would start the second with just over three minutes of carryover power play time. Shots were 16-13 in favor of Portland for the opening frame.
The big news of the second period, other than the slew of penalties called, was Portland forward Cody Glass leaving the ice after an apparent knee injury. The Vegas Golden Knights first round pick was helped off the ice by teammates and did not return for the remainder of the game. There was no scoring in the second frame. Tri-City forward Morgan Geekie was awarded a penalty shot but was unable to convert after his shot sailed wide. Portland once again held the shot advantage 12-8 over the Americans.
Tri-City forward Parker AuCoin finally broke the scoreless tie just 1:36 into the third period. AuCoin bounced on a Portland giveaway in the Winterhawks’ zone and buried his seventh of the season. Portland answered back at the 8:24 mark when Portland center Ty Kolle took a pass from Alex Overhardt after a Tri-City turnover at their own blue line and buried it short side on Dea. It was Kolle’s fourth goal of the year. The Americans power play, which has been very good lately, would get its chance to regain the lead after Portland defenseman Clay Hanus was called for roughing when he tried to stir up Nolan Yaremko. It would take the power play unit just 35 seconds to score after forward Jordan Topping buried a great pass from Kyle Olson for his 17th goal of the season. The momentum seemed to be shifting in the Americans’ favor as they spent much of the rest of the third generating chances and attacking Farkas. But momentum can be a fickle thing. With just a minute to play, and Farkas pulled for the extra attacker for Portland, center Mason Mannek fired a shot through traffic that found twine and tied the game. The score would remain tied at two at the end of regulation. Tri-City outshot Portland 17-10 in the period.
Overtime was all Tri-City early on. They were moving the puck well, limiting Portland’s chances, and getting pucks on net. Portland needed just one Tri-City mistake however to complete the comeback though. Defenseman Brendan De Jong picked up a loose puck close to the Tri-City blue line. He found center Ryan Hughes skating to Dea’s right side. After getting Dea to commit, Hughes fired a perfect pass across the crease to Skyler McKenzie who beat a sprawled out Dea for his 24th of the season. Game over. Tri-City outshot Portland 3-1 in the extra frame and 41-39 for the game. The Americans were 1-for-2 on the power play while Portland failed to convert on all five of their chances. Tri-City will travel to Spokane on Saturday for a tilt with the Chiefs before returning home on Sunday for their annual New Year’s Eve game against Spokane. Portland will travel to Seattle on Saturday for the first half of a home-and-home.
