Tri-City stays perfect at home extending win streak to 5

Kennewick, WA. – Going in to tonight, the Tri-City Americans (8-4-0-0) had yet to lose on home ice and were riding a 4 game overall win streak. After opening the season with nine straight losses, the Kamloops Blazers (3-10-0-0) were riding a three game win streak. However, the Americans were able to capitalize on a lot of Kamloops defensive turnovers and miscues to earn a 6-3 victory Saturday night at the the Toyota Center in front of 3,730 fans.

On the cusp of an impressive shootout win in Spokane on Friday night, the Kamloops Blazers needed to come out fast and strong to put pressure on the Tri-City Americans. Unfortunately for the Blazers, it was the Americans who came out fast and strong. The Americans peppered Kamloops goalie Dylan Ferguson early and often and were able to break the scoreless tie at the 6:59 mark of the opening frame. Americans forward Jordan Topping skated in to Ferguson’s right and blasted a tough angle shot from just in front of the goal line over the goalie’s shoulder to put Tri-City up by one. Topping wasn’t done for the period, however, as he added another on the power play at 11:23. After great puck movement and traffic in front of Ferguson, Topping batted the puck out of midair and in. The play was reviewed but it was determined it was not hit in with a high stick. Americans defenseman Juuso Välimäki earned his 100th WHL point with his assist on that goal. After taking nearly the whole period to get any quality chances, Kamloops was able to get on the scoresheet at the 19:12 mark. Garret Pillon netted his fifth of the season for the Blazers on a shot from the left circle. The Americans held the 2-1 lead heading to intermission and also led in shots on goal 15-9.

After a penalty filled start to the middle frame, the Americans began to clamp down and take advantage of a visibly tired Blazers team. A Kamloops turnover deep in their own zone found the tape of Americans forward Carson Focht who found defenseman Roman Kalinichenko to the right of Ferguson. Kalinichenko settled the puck and fired a beautiful wrist shot past Ferguson for his first ever WHL goal.

Just over three minutes later, another Kamloops turnover deep in their own zone, led to a great chance for the Americans. Defenseman Dylan Coghlan took the puck away and found forward Parker Aucoin all alone in front on the Blazers net. A couple of dekes by Aucoin led to a great five hole goal on a frozen Ferguson. The Americans skated into the second intermission with the 4-1 lead. Tri-City outshot Kamloops 10-8 in the period.

The Blazers, however, were not ready to go quietly into the night. Kamloops was able to get their best chances of the night on a set on sustained attacks in the Tri-City end of the ice. Just under five minutes into the final frame, Kamloops winger Carson Denomie took advantage of some great puck movement in front of the Americans’ net and fired a shot past Tri-City goaltender Patrick Dea for his first WHL goal. The Blazers had cut the Americans lead in half, 4-2. The Blazers were able to continue some sustained pressure and force Dea to make some tough saves to keep the Tri-City lead at two goals. The Americans stood their ground and continued to wait for their chances, with one coming at the 10:47 mark. With the Americans pressing, Kamloops attempted to clear their own zone. The attempt was intercepted by Tri-City forward Michael Rasmussen who skated in alone on Kamloops goaltender, Max Palaga, and lifted the puck top shelf for his fifth goal of the early season. The goal was Rasmussen’s second point of the night and gave Tri-City the 5-2 lead. Kamloops refused to go down easy, however. At 12:05 of the period, Blazers defenseman Joe Gatenby scored right off the face-off just two seconds into Kamloops’ third power play opportunity of the night. The Blazers were back to within two, but it was all they would be able to muster. Topping added an empty-netter for the Americans to complete the hat-trick, and Tri-City held on for the 6-3 win. Kamloops outshot Tri-City 12-9 in the period. Both teams went 1-for-3 on the power play. The Americans won the shots-on-goal battle 34-29.

The Americans are now 4-0 at home this season, and are riding a five game win streak. They currently sit just 2 points back of the Portland WInterhawks for first place in the U.S. Division. Tri-City will host the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday at home, while the Blazers will return home and have a few days off before they face the Everett Silvertips on Friday night.