Kennewick, Wa. The Tri-City Americans’ (24-16-7-0, 55 pts.) fans cheered louder than they have in quite some time when it was announced that power forward Michael Rasmussen would be the starting center in tonight’s matchup with the Spokane Chiefs (26-19-2-2, 56 pts.). Rasmussen had been sidelined since mid-December with a wrist injury. The Tri-City playoff run is in full effect and getting that piece back should make a huge difference. Rasmussen had 3 points (1g, 2a) in his return tonight making his presence known in a 5-4 overtime win for the Americans.
Within the first thirty seconds on the ice, Rasmussen had already won a face-off and fired two shots at the Spokane net with one hitting right on. Unfortunately the Americans had to change their focus from offense to penalty killing as forward Isaac Johnson was called for slashing just twenty-seven seconds in. The Americans penalty-killing unit was able to keep the Chiefs away from any real quality chances. The pace of the game settled into a really good back-and-forth with each team trying to find some rhythm and create some quality chances. Spokane struck first as forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan found twine with a laser from the right circle at the 5:37 mark. It was Anderson-Dolan’s 25th of the season. Defenseman Filip Kral picked up the lone assist. The back-and-forth play continued with both teams getting some good chances. At one point, the game went nearly seven minutes between whistles. The period would end with the Chiefs up 1-0 and the shots-on-goal tied at 8 aside.
A one goal first period was followed up by a six goal second. Just 1:15 in, the Chiefs extended their lead to two as forward Ethan McIndoe got his 15th if the year. Forward Kailer Yamamoto forced a turnover, carried the puck in deep and then found a wide open McIndoe for the goal. Just a minute-and-a-half later, defenseman Dylan Coghlan would get the Americans on the board with his 14th of the year on the power play. Rasmussen streaked in to Chiefs goaltender Dawson Weatherill’s right side a fired a perfect cross ice pass to Coghlan who buried it into a wide open net. Just over a minute later, Chiefs defenseman Ty Smith would give Spokane the two-goal lead back. Smith moved up into the play and behind the Americans’ defense where he collected a perfect pass from Anderson-Dolan for his 7th of the season. It took the Chiefs less than a minute to extend that lead to three goals as Zach Fisher was once again able to get behind the Americans defense and take a great cross-ice pass and bury to Americans’ goalie Patrick Dea’s left side. Spokane was starting to run away at that point, and Tri-City coach Mike Williamson called the timeout to hopefully settle things. Things quieted down for about six minutes until Rasmussen earned his first goal and second point of the contest. Forward Nolan Yaremko and Rasmussen were on a 2-on-1 when Yaremko hit Rasmussen cross ice for the goal. It was Rasmussen’s 17th of the year. Tri-City would cut the Spokane lead to just one around four minutes later. Forward Riley Sawchuk picked up his 6th of the year after a great pass across from Isaac Johnson. Spokane won the shot battle 15-8 in the middle frame but had just the 1-goal lead again.
Tri-City was by far the more aggressive team to open the third period. They were finally winning battles and keeping play in the Spokane end for the most part. Late in the period forward Jordan Topping seemed to have scored the game-tying goal, but after review the net was dislodged by Weatherill just before the puck crossed the line. Tri-City still had to find the equalizer. With Dea pulled for the extra attacker, the Americans did just that at the 19:00 mark. Coghlan fired a shot from the right point for his second of the contest. Rasmussen seemingly got the tip in but in fact it was Coghlan’s goal. The remainder of regulation solved nothing and the teams would head to overtime.
One week ago in Spokane, these same two teams played to overtime, with the Chiefs getting the extra point on a Yamamoto goal early in the extra frame. Tonight, it was the Americans who would get the extra point. Coghlan completed the hat-trick 1:14 in to give Tri-City the 5-4 win. Forward Jordan Topping fed a pass from the right wing to Coghlan who was all alone in the slot. It was Topping’s 3rd assist of the night. The Americans have now played in five straight games that were decided by a single goal. They have won two of the last three. The Americans power play went 1-for-1 on the night while Spokane was 0-for-2 with the man-advantage. The Chiefs out shot the Americans 37-31. Tri-City will host Seattle on Sunday while Spokane will travel to Everett on Sunday as well.
Another big piece of the Americans puzzle should return this week. It is reported that defenseman Juuso Välimäki, who has been sidelined with an injury since the World Junior Championship where he captained Team Finland, will return from Calgary on Monday and could play as early as Wednesday when the Americans host the Victoria Royals.
