The last time the Tri-City Americans played a game on this day, March 30, it was a game they surely have not thought about since, or they have a lot.
Playing against Everett in the first round of the playoffs, the Silvertips recorded 22 shots in the first period and scored three goals in a huge 9-1 win. The loss for Tri-City eliminated them from the playoffs in five games.
Bryce Kindopp had three goals and one assist while Connor Dewar tickled the twine once and he had three assists.
Kyle Olson responded for Tri-City in the loss. The Americans went 34-28-5-1 to clinch the top wildcard spot in the Western Conference. They were; however, trending in the wrong direction going into the playoffs as they went 1-6-3 in their final 10 games while Everett won 47 games, six of which came in their final 10 games while they lost two in regulation and one each in overtime and the shootout.
Everett lost to Spokane in five games in the next round.
March 30, 2013: Chiefs break hearts
Tri-City lost in overtime two nights prior to fall down 3-1 in their best-of-seven with Spokane. In front of their fans, they needed a win to keep their season alive. They outshot Spokane; however, that wasn’t enough as they dropped the game, 3-1.
That means Tri-City’s season ended once again on March 30.
This series was expected to be longer than done in five games. Spokane had 90 points in the regular season while Tri-City was just behind with 85. The game-changer in this series was Tri-City’s inability to win on home ice. Playing in a 2-3-2 format, despite losing the first two games in Spokane, the Ams’ had three straight games on home ice as they looked to get back in the series. In the end, they lost two of three at the Toyota Center as their season came to an end.
Spokane was bounced in four games against Portland in the next round.
March 30, 2011: Third times a charm?
Tri-City won the first two games of their first-round series with Vancouver on home ice. The night prior, Drew Owsley made 22 saves in a 4-0 shutout as the Americans took a 3-0 series lead. Adam Hughesman led the way with two goals.
On this day nine years ago, Tri-City had the chance to sweep away the Giants and move on. And, Mason Wilgosh tallied two markers and had one assist as the Americans did just that in a 5-1 win, a win that brought out the brooms in enemy territory.
Owsley wasn’t busy, but he did what he needed to do as he made 17 saves on 18 shots. Tri-City also outshot Vancouver, 28-18.
The team’s season came to an end in six games against Spokane in the next round.
March 30, 2007: Staying alive
Tri-City’s season was hanging on by a thread. The Seattle Thunderbirds won three of the first four games to take a 3-1 series lead to Tri-City with a chance to end it.
They peppered Tri-City’s net; however, a goalie many people call one of the best in the world to this day was phenomenal. Carey Price made 46 saves as the Americans stayed alive with a 5-4 thrilling overtime win in front of just more than 3600 fans at the Toyota Center.
Juraj Valach scored his first goal of the playoffs at a perfect time as he sealed things with the marker, 12:59 into overtime. Alex Aldred, Colton Yellow Horn, Taylor Procyshen, and Michael Kaye would also score a single in the game.
The series would shift to Seattle the next night and there was a Russell Wilson sighting. The Thunderbirds pounded Tri-City, 7-2, to end their season. Seattle’s season would end in five games against Vancouver in the next round.
That’s a wrap as we took a look at this day in history, March 30 for the Tri-City Americans.
