Tri-City finishes season-opening road trip by going 0-2

Everett, WA – The Tri-City Americans (0-2-0) were looking to hand the Everett Silvertips (1-1-0) their second straight loss at home to open the season. The Silvertips had other plans. Despite the fact that Tri-City was able to put 43 shots on goal, a hot handed goaltender and the inability to capitalize on the chances they got, spoiled the Americans attempt at their first win of the year. The Americans lost 4-1 to open what is expected to be a successful season on a losing streak.

For the second night in a row, the Silvertips were the team that came out fast and hard, controlling the pace of play in the opening frame. Americans defenseman Dylan Coghlan, picked up an interference penalty (his 3rd of the early season) putting Everett on their first power play of the night. Just 37 seconds into that penalty, Riley Sutter beat Americans goaltender Patrick Dea to give the Silvertips the early 1-0 lead. It was the first power play goal the Americans gave up this season, after going 5-for-5 on the penalty kill the night before against Seattle. Just over five minutes later, Patrick Bajkov gave Everett the 2-0 lead after receiving a great feed from Matt Fonteyne from the side of the net. For the second night in a row, Everett skated into the first intermission with the lead.

Unlike the night before, the Silvertips would not break down defensively in the second period. After being chased in their season opener against Portland the previous night, Everett goalie Dorrin Luding made several key saves in the middle frame. The Americans were able to get on the board, but it took a 5-on-3 advantage to do so. Tri-City forward Maxwell James scored his 1st of the season at the 16:19 mark of the period to pull the Americans to within one. That would be the closest they would get. Just under two minutes later Bajkov would add an insurance goal for the Silvertips, his second of the contest. Everett would finish the scoring at 1:35 of the 3rd period after Sean Richards took advantage of the large amount of open ice that Tri-City gave him as he entered the Americans’ zone to net his first of the season.

Despite the second straight loss, there were some bright points that the Americans can definitely build off of. Special teams has been solid. They scored a power play goal for the second straight game. Their penalty kill went 9-of-10 on the weekend which included a shorthanded goal from Parker Auction against Seattle. Goaltender Patrick Dea had a great game against Everett. Despite giving up 4 goals, he faced 52 shots which was good enough for a 0.923 save percentage.

The glaring concern as of now seems to be the overall play in the Tri-City defensive zone. Miscues, turnovers and getting caught out of position way too often caused the Americans to play from behind most of the weekend. Dakota Krebs and Dylan Coghlan are the only returning defensemen from last years team to play in the regular season for the Americans so far. That means a group that is still learning to play together. More time together in practice and game situations should hopefully see the group tighten up moving forward.

Tri-City will have the next five days off before their home opener on Saturday, September 30th against Everett.