It was a busy final stretch of games for the Tri-City Americans. They had four games over a six-day span before beginning the eight-day holiday break. All four games were against U.S. Division opponents. Unfortunately for the Ams, they dropped all four games, though one was in overtime, earning them a single point.
Since going 3-0 on a three-game swing through the Central Division, the Americans have dropped six straight contests and 12 of their last 13. During that span, three of those losses came in overtime and eight were by a single goal.
This means that the Americans have dropped from third in the U.S. to just clinging to the second wild card and final playoff spot by a single point over the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Let’s take a look at their last four games.
Friday, 12/13: Seattle 5 vs Tri-City 1
The Thunderbirds, losers of all three previous games against the Americans, got their revenge. They blitzed Americans goalie Beck Warm to the tune of 57 shots and rolled out to a 4-0 lead before coasting to a 5-1 win.
Sasha Mutala notched his ninth goal this season late in the second on a power play. The marker was assisted by Krystof Hrabik and Edge Lambert. For Lambert, that was his fifth point in his last three games.
Connor Bouchard was given a 10-minute misconduct during a scrum at the end of regulation. Tri-City’s Bryan McAndrews and Seattle’s Conner Roulette and Luke Bateman were also involved.
Saturday, 12/14: Portland 8 @Tri-City 1
The following night, the Americans hosted their annual Teddy Bear Toss game. 5,219 fans made the trek to the Toyota Center and tossed a record-setting 4,917 bears onto the ice.
After Tyson Kozak and Clay Hanus spotted Portland a 2-0 lead, Hrabik drove the Portland net and tipped a Mutala pass right by Winterhawks goalie Dante Giannuzzi.
That goal brought the bears on and put the Americans within one midway through regulation.
Talyn Boyko was under siege most of the night though, facing 45 shots and 29 through the first 40 minutes. Despite that onslaught of shots — many of which were high quality — Boyko kept the Americans within two after two periods.
Then in the third, the Winterhawks broke through. Part of the reason they were able to score five more and put the game away was a five-minute major and game misconduct given to Landon Roberts for cross-checking. The Winterhawks scored twice on their five-minute power play.
Roberts was later assessed a two-game suspension, causing him to miss Tri-City’s last two games before the break.
Tuesday, 12/17: Seattle 4 @Tri-City 3 OT
Two nights later at home, the Americans and Thunderbirds took part in an overtime thriller.
Seattle jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Keltie Jeri-Leon and Conner Roulette.
Tri-City got within one though with Mutala’s 10th. He tracked down a bouncing puck and slammed it past Seattle goalie Roddy Ross.
Marc Lajoie then found some space and wired a shot in. The marker was his fourth this season.
Lajoie, a 16-year-old, 6-foot-4, 232-pound native of St. Albert, Alberta, has been leaned on heavily by the Americans. The young rookie has played beyond his years.
“Marc has had a very good start to his WHL career. He has played top-4 minutes and is adjusting to the speed of the game. He has had to play against the top forwards every night which is a difficult task at the best of times, let alone for a 16-year-old. Should do nothing but improve his game moving forward,” said Tri-City governor and general manager Bob Tory.
Lajoie’s four goals are the most by any Tri-City d-man.
Jared Davidson put the T-Birds back up by one midway through the third. Despite just six shots in the final frame, Paycen Bjorklund tied the game up and ultimately forced overtime by cutting to the middle and wiring a shot by Ross’s blocker.
Conner Roulette set up Henrik Rybinski on the rush to get Seattle the extra point and continue the losing streak.
Wednesday, 12/18: Everett 4 vs Tri-City 3
Despite a valiant effort, the Americans dropped another close game the following night in Everett.
Gage Goncalves and Jake Christiansen (on the power play) beat Warm to set Everett up with an early 2-0 lead.
Blake Stevenson set up Bjorklund on the power play and it was 2-1 after 20.
The Silvertips could not be contained though, and Jackson Berezowski and Dawson Butt put them up 4-1 with 23:21 left in game time.
Again before a period ended though, the Ams drew closer. Samuel Stewart snuck in from the point and beat Everett goalie Keegan Karki to make it 4-2 ‘Tips. The goal was just his second this season and first since November 1st.
Bjorklund netted his second of the night and third in his last two games off the rush to make this one really interesting. Karki and the Silvertips held off the comeback though, and Tri-City fell short.
Everett has now won three of four in the season series.
With the Americans failing to force overtime, the Thunderbirds will open the second half of the season just one point behind them for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Upcoming Schedule:
Friday, 12/27/19 vs Portland Winterhawks
-0-2 vs Portland and have been outscored 14-2. If they can win this one, that is a good starting statement for the second half of the season.
Saturday, 12/28/19 @Spokane Chiefs
-1-3 vs the Chiefs. With a big New Year’s Eve tilt next and the Chiefs missing key players, the Americans could use a big rivalry win.
The American Way…
-The WHL recently announced a U.S. Challenge Cup for 2005-born players this coming Spring. That will be followed by a two-round U.S. Prospects Draft. Tory gave his thoughts on the draft.
“The tournament should be awesome for exposing US-born players to the WHL game experience while it also provides great scouting experience for WHL teams. It may take a few years to grow, but with the support of NHL Seattle, I can see the event start to draw the top US Bantam teams in WHL territory consistently.”
