Juuso Välimäki Doug Love

Americans flex offensive muscles in blowout over Victoria

Kennewick, Wa. Defenseman Juuso Välimäki made his long awaited return from injury for the Tri-City Americans (26-16-7-0, 59 pts.) and helped the Americans defensive unit shut down the high powered Victoria Royals (30-18-3-1, 64 pts.) by a blowout score of 7-1. Forward Michael Rasmussen had three points for the second time in his last three games since returning from injury. This healthy Americans team is starting to roll.

It did not take long for Tri-City to let Victoria know what their intentions were for this Wednesday evening tilt. Just two-and-a-half minutes in the floodgates opened. Forward Jordan Topping opened the scoring after he collected a great feed from Morgan Geekie right across the crease. Topping has been on fire lately, collecting points in six of his last eight games (5g, 5a). That first goal wouldn’t be his last of the evening, either. Just over two-and-a-half minutes later, at the 5:05 mark, Topping would get his second. After setting up right in front of Victoria’s net, Topping got his stick on a Dylan Coghlan shot from the high slot to tip the puck up and over Royals’ goaltender Griffen Outhouse. The fast start is something the Americans haven’t been able to do a whole lot of this year. Tonight was clicking for Tri-City on all cylinders. Just under a minute-and-a-half after Topping’s second goal, forward Isaac Johnson extended the Americans lead to three. After blocking an initial shot from forward Nolan Yaremko, Outhouse gave up a rebound that found its way on to a streaking Johnson’s stick. Johnson put the puck behind Outhouse for his 14th of the season. With that goal, Johnson extended his point streak to five games. The Americans were up 3-0, and the Royals still hadn’t registered a single shot on goal. With the fast start by Tri-City, came the frustration by Victoria. The Royals gave the Americans three power play opportunities in the opening frame. Just a minute into the first one, Rasmussen did what he does best which is score in close. Rasmussen and Outhouse were battling around the Victoria crease for several seconds. Rasmussen moved out to the corner and buried a pass from Geekie stick-side on Outhouse. The assist was Geekie’s 40th on the season. The Americans put together one of their best periods of the season and walked into intermission with the commanding 4-0 lead. Tri-City outshot the Royals 17-9 in the first.

Jordan Topping
Jordan Topping (photo by Doug Love)

The middle frame is a place where Tri-City has had struggles this season. To make a statement they would need to keep the foot on the gas. They did just that. The Americans held the Royals to just six shots on goal for the middle frame. Tri-City fired fourteen on Outhouse in the second and made two of them count. At 7:22, Topping completed the hat trick for his 100th career WHL goal. It was also his second hat trick in his last five games. Geekie earned his 3rd assist of the night. It was Geekie who would extend the lead to 6-0 for Tri-City at 11:58. A great steal just inside the Victoria blue line, and a writer from the far side gave Geekie his 18th of the season. The Americans once again outshot the Royals in the middle frame 14-6.

The third period would see a change in goal for Victoria as Outhouse was replaced by backup net minder Dean McNabb. The Royals were looking for something to spark their team as they had been outplayed sorely over the first forty minutes. Just 2:37 into the final frame, the Royals were able to spoil Tri-City goaltender Beck Warm’s shutout attempt. Defenseman Jared Freadrich picked up his 11th of the year on the power play with a shot that deflected off the crossbar and in. Warm was screened on the play and the Royals were final on the board. Unfortunately for Victoria it was the closest they would get. Forward Nolan Yaremko scored his 16th of the season on the power play at 9:40. Coghlan’s shot was deflected out front by Yaremko to give Tri-City the 7-1 lead. That was how the night would end. Tri-City outshot the Royals 37-29 on the night and earned the split on the season series with Victoria. Warm earned his 13th win of the season for Tri-City while Outhouse was credited with the loss. Tri-City will host Portland on Friday night while Victoria will host Medicine Hat on Friday.

This Americans team is starting to click at the right time. They have won three straight and have points in their last six. A key to their success has been their special teams. Their power play is ranked 2nd in the league overall and first overall on home ice. Over the last games, the man-advantage is firing at 34.8%. The penalty-killing unit has been doing a much better job as well. The Americans are playing much more disciplined, only giving up eleven short-handed opportunities for their opponents in the last four games. Their penalty killers have been running around 82% in those four games. This team had high marks entering the season and they are starting really show why. They currently sit 3rd in the tightly contested U.S. Division and 6th overall in the Western Conference. They have games in hand on everyone in the division. The opportunity is there if they can continue to click.