Kennewick, Wa. The Tri-City Americans (9-4-0-0, 18pts.) have been on a hot streak lately. Coming into tonight, they were 4-0 at home and were riding a 5-game win streak. After starting hot, the Moose Jaw Warriors (10-4-0-0, 20pts.) have cooled a bit recently, but are still very much a force to be reckoned with. The Warriors beat the Portland Winterhawks the night before in Portland and were riding a 3-game road win streak. In the end, it was the Americans who were able to take advantage their numerous opportunities and earn the 8-4 win to keep their streak alive.
Both Tri-City and Moose Jaw are teams that can put the puck in the net. The opening frame, however, was one full of defense and solid goaltending. There was a good flow that both teams were able to get going, but it was the Americans who would strike first. Just six seconds after Tri-City’s first power play opportunity had expired, forward Isaac Johnson would light the lamp first with his fourth goal of the season. Both teams continued to exchange chances as the frame wore on. It looked like Moose Jaw would be able to even it up after back-to-back power play opportunities to end the period. Tri-City, however, was able to kill both of those off and go into the first intermission with the coveted one goal lead. Shots in the period were 13-11 in favor of Moose Jaw.
After a highly defensive first period, the scoring floodgates were opened in the second. At 5:44, Moose Jaw defenseman Oleg Sosunov got the Warriors on the board. The big man wound up and sniped a shot from just between the circles that found twine. Tri-City goaltender Beck Warm never saw the shot after being partially screened. Just under three minutes later, the Americans would start a flurry of goals that would see both teams score four total goals in a three minute span. Americans forward Morgan Geekie won a foot race to beat out an icing call and then gained control and made a great pass behind the net to defenseman Dylan Coghlan who made a great feed just in front of the Warriors crease to a streaking Jordan Topping. Topping beat Wilms stick side. It was Topping’s fourth goal in the last two games. It would take the Americans just under a minute to strike again. A Warrior turnover in the neutral zone, led to Carson Focht gaining possession and carrying the puck across the blue line. Focht fed a perfect pass cross ice to Parker Aucoin who once again beat Wilms stick side. At 11:05, Moose Jaw cut the lead to one after forward Justin Almeida netted his 8th of the season following a Tri-City turnover right in front of their own net. It would take Tri-City just forty-one seconds to get the two goal lead back, however. Forward Riley Sawchuck netted his first of the season after some great down low play by the Americans in the Warriors’ zone. Goal scoring would be over for the period, but both teams continued some great offensive pressure throughout. Warm was forced to make an incredible save at the 6:30 mark as Moose Jaw had a 2-on-none rush in the Tri-City zone. Shots were 16-14 in favor of the Americans for the period.
If the fans at Toyota Center enjoyed the 5-goal second period, they were in for a bigger treat in the third. Just fifty-four seconds into the final frame, Moose Jaw captain Brett Howden took advantage of a Tri-City turnover and netted his seventh of the season to pull the Warriors to within one. It was the closest Moose Jaw would get. In just over a five minute span, the Americans got goals from Michael Rasmussen, Sasha Mutala, Geekie, and Topping’s second of the night. The score was 8-3 just past the halfway mark of the period. Moose Jaw would add one more as Jett Woo netted a power play goal, but the story of the night belonged to the Americans and their strong play at both ends of the ice. They limited Moose Jaw’s potent offense to just a few quality chances, and took advantage of a plethora of Warrior turnovers and miscues. Tri-City finished 2-for-6 on the power play, while Moose Jaw finished the night 1-for-3 on the man advantage. Shots were 37-36 in favor of the Americans. Moose Jaw will wrap up their 7-game road trip with a game Friday in Medicine Hat.
Jordan Topping has been on a tear lately. He is riding a 3-game point streak (6g, 3a) including 5 goals in his last two games. He currently sits 14th in the league with 20 points (11g, 9a) for the season. Americans defenseman Dylan Coghlan had four assists on the night and extended his point streak to three games (0g, 8a). Morgan Geekie had a three point night (1g, 2a) and also extended his point streak to three games (1g, 5a). Since starting the season 0-2, Tri-City has gone 9-2 and has seen a steady increase in goal scoring production including fifteen goals-for in their last three games. The Americans will be on the road this weekend with games in Kamloops and Kelowna.
