Doug Love

Tri-City stays hot taking out Everett to win fourth straight

Kennewick, Wa. Through all the ups and downs of the 72-game WHL regular season schedule, it’s not how you start, but how you finish. The Tri-City Americans (36-24-8-1, 81pts.) have certainly had their fair share of ups and downs this year. But they are making a strong case to finish the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the league. On Tuesday night, they played host to the Everett Silvertips (45-20-2-3, 95pts.) a team they have lost four straight to, including being shut out twice over that span. Beating Everett wouldn’t have any real effect on the standings either way, but it would make a statement. Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Americans made that statement, squandering an early lead, falling behind, and then battling back to take down the Western Conference leading Silvertips 4-2.

The first period of this one was very reminiscent of the Silvertips of old. It was a grinding, boring affair marked by a lot of defense and very few chances. Add the absence of any penalties for either side, and you had a pretty uneventful affair for nearly the entire first twenty minutes of play. The Americans, however, were able to break through and get themselves on the board first. At the 18:23 mark, Americans’ defenseman Jake Bean picked up his 11th if the year, when he picked up his own rebound and fired one top shelf on Everett goaltender Carter Hart. It was Bean’s second straight game with a goal and extends his scoring streak to five games. It was all the scoring that would take place in the first. Everett held the 7-6 shot advantage in the opening frame.

Sasha Mutala
Sasha Mutala (photo by Judy Simpson)

The second period was a bit more wide open for both teams. One of the things Tri-City has been struggling with recently has been the consistency of their penalty kill. Tonight was the same story. Everett, not surprisingly, drew the first power play opportunity of the night. Americans forward Brett Clayton was whistled for a high stick at the 2:38 mark and just 14 seconds in – at the 2:52 mark, Everett tied things up. Forward Matt Fonteyne, who is having a career year, picked up his 34th of the year, and continues to move closer to doubling his previous season high of 20 goals which he scored last season. Just over six minutes later, at the 9:03 mark, and again on the power play, Everett would take the lead on the strength of forward Garrett Pilon’s 33rd of the year. With Tri-City goaltender Patrick Dea down and unable to make the save, Pilon was able to snipe one top corner. Dea would play phenomenally the rest of the game. Tri-City, not letting the scoreboard determine any panic, continued to play their game. Just over a minute-and-a-half after Pilon’s goal for Everett, the captain, forward Michael Rasmussen, would get the equalizer for Tri-City. Rasmussen, set up right in front of the net, got the tip-in off of a Bean shot for his 29th of the season. Rasmussen now has a five-game point streak as well. At the 15:10 mark, the Americans would retake the lead as forward Morgan Geekie picked up his 29th if the season, also extending his point streak to five games. A great set of passes found their way through the stingy Everett defense, and finished in the back of the net. Rookie forward Sasha Mutala picked up an assist on the play extending his point streak to five games. The goal also marked the first time Hart has given up more than two goals for Everett in his past nine games. The lead would hold to intermission. The Silvertips once again outshot the Americans, this time 18-11.

The final period looked much like the first. After a spirited second, there were no penalties, very few whistles, and only one goal scored. Everett was able to get some pressure, but the Americans embraced the defensive play and held the Silvertips to very few quality chances. Tri-City took advantage of the empty-net situation late in the period to double up on Everett. Forward Riley Sawchuk, now on a three game point streak of his own, picked up the insurance goal at the 18:46 mark. That would do it. Tri-City ended their losing streak to Everett and extended their win streak to four. Dea continues to extend his personal record for wins, earning his 21st of the season, and fourth in five nights. Hart earned just his sixth regulation loss of the season. Special teams chances for few for each team, with the Americans failing to convert on their only power play  chance, and Everett going 2-for-2 on the man-advantage. Tri-City will wrap up the regular season this coming weekend playing three games in three nights, including a home-and-home with Spokane, and a regular season finale against Seattle on Sunday. Everett needs just three points to wrap up their second straight U.S. Division title, and will end the season with a home-and-home against Victoria.