DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Tri-City Americans (14-25-4-1) @ SeattleThunderbirds (18-22-3-2) 7:05 PST
Eight points separate the division rivals, as the Americans look to play catch-up in a battle with the Seattle Thunderbirds, the team they are chasing.
The teams are playing their seventh and final game of the season series. Tri-city won the first three games of the series, followed by three wins for Seattle. Each team has collected seven of a possible 12 points.
The Americans have lost six straight games in regulation. The team has been using two very young goalies as Talyn Boyko has been out with an injury. Seattle has not fared much better recently as the team has gone 0-2-1-1 in its last four games. Both teams allow more than 3.75 goals per game.
The Americans are led by Sasha Mutala, who is clipping along at more than a point-per-game pace. He has 17 goals and 32 assists through 43 games this season. The Colorado Avalanche fifth-round pick has also piled up 16 points with the man advantage.
Tri-City brought in Luke Zazula from the Kamloops Blazers at the end of November. Since that time, he has played in 19 games and has supplied three goals and nine assists to lead the way for the Americans among their defensemen. He now has 14 points on the season.
As a two spotter (both an overage player and import), Andrej Kukuca has been the driving force for the Seattle Thunderbirds offence. In 45 games this season, Kukuca has 16 goals and 25 assists. He is slightly behind his pace from last season when he had .97 points per game. This season he is currently at .91.
Another import, Simon Kubicek, leads the way for the Seattle defense. Despite missing time to attend the IIHF World Junior Championships, Kubicek has six goals and 14 assists. The now 18-year-old Kubicek is eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft.
Expect to see Roddy Ross between the pipes for the Thunderbirds. Ross has been the number one goaltender since his arrival in Seattle and has posted a 14-16-3-2 record this season. He pairs that with a 3.26 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
Tri-City is likely to go back to Mason Dunsford between the pipes. He had been the designated back up before Boyko’s injury. Dunsford is 0-4-0-0 in 6 games of action. He has a 9.57 goals-against average and a .783 save percentage. Dunsford has had a tough go of late as the Americans have lost six in a row.
In other WHL Action:
Victoria Royals (25-17-3-0) @ Saskatoon Blades (23-19-2-2)
The Victoria Royals enter the contest having lost four straight. They continue their road trip through the East Division looking to pick up their first win in three games. Saskatoon is coming off two controversial losses over the weekend and will want to get back on track.
Brandon Wheat Kings (25-17-2-2) @ Edmonton Oil Kings (32-8-6-3)
Both teams have been hot of late. Brandon has points in 11 straight games and Edmonton has points in 10 of its last 11 games. The Oil Kings have just three regulation losses on home ice this season. Brandon is 11-10-0-0 on the road. Edmonton leads the Central Division by eight points, while Brandon is third in the East Division, three points back of second place.
Swift Current Broncos (10-31-1-3) @ Medicine Hat Tigers (30-14-1-1)
One of Swift Current’s 10 wins came against Medicine Hat. The win came following the holiday break and was decided in a shootout. Medicine Hat has also put up 10 goals on Swift Current. Medicine Hat is three points behind the Lethbridge Hurricanes for second in the Central Division. Swift Current is 26 points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
