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Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2008
Ams take 3-0 series lead
By Annie Fowler, Herald staff writer
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia -- The Tri-City Americans have not fared well this season when trailing after two periods, winning just seven of 22 games, but Tuesday night they put on a show in the third period to take a 3-0 lead on Kamloops in their first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.
Trailing 3-1 after two periods, Tri-Cities scored three third-period goals, including the game-winner by Jason Reese, to rally past the Blazers 4-3 at Interior Savings Center.
The Americans have only one playoff series sweep in their history -- a 4-0 first-round win over Portland in 1999. They go for their second tonight in Game 4 of the best-of-7 series in Kamloops.
If Game 5 is necessary, it will be Saturday at Toyota Center.
Adam Hughesman got the Americans on track in the third, picking up a rebound off a shot by Blair Macaulay and pulling the puck around the net for a wrap-around goal at 2:23 to pull Tri-Cities within 3-2.
"Adam gave us life in the third," Nachbaur said.
The line of Hughesman, Macaulay and Drew Hoff tied the game at 3 at 10:33 as Hoff put the puck on net and Macaulay chipped away at it before it found its way past goalie Justin Leclerc.
Reese put the game-winner in the net at 17:33, redirecting a shot by Brett Plouffe from the left point.
"I didn't see him shoot it, but I was going to the net," Reese said. "The puck came between my legs, I got it on my stick and put it in the net. (Kamloops) came out and got a good lead on us, but we were lucky enough to come back in the third."
Kamloops has lost 17 of its last 18 games, and tonight's game is a must-win if the Blazers don't want to turn in their gear.
"We kind of sat back in the third a bit. We need to stick to our system and play with confidence," said Scott Wasden, who had two goals. "It's sad to give up a lead like that. We have another game tomorrow and we have to be ready."
Tied at 1 at the start of the second period, the Americans had an opportunity to take charge of the game as Kamloops' Shayne Wiebe was called for a double minor for high-sticking.
Tri-Cities' top power-play unit failed to produce, and the second unit coughed up the puck, with which Wasden scored his second goal of the game -- short-handed -- at 2:55.
Five minutes later, the Blazers took their first two-goal lead of the series when Tyler Shattock scored a power-play goal for his first tally of the playoffs.
The Blazers gave the Americans a
5-on-3 power play at 16:33 of the second, and despite Tri-Cities' top power-play team working the entire man advantage, the Americans managed just six shots on goal as they trailed 3-1 at the end of the period.
"I thought we played with zero passion the first two periods," Nachbaur said. "We probably thought we could do limited work and we got fed some hockey. Kamloops has a lot of pride and another home game. We have to come ready to play."
Kamloops scored the first goal of the game for the second game in a row as Wasden picked up a loose puck in the slot. His shot hit Chet Pickard's right pad and slid in at the right post at 16:40 of the first period.
The Americans tied things up 21/2 minutes later as defenseman Eric Mestery charged up-ice with the puck. As the rest of his teammates made a line change, Mestery took the puck down the left side of the slot and put a soft shot on Leclerc. The puck slid through Leclerc' pads and into the net for Mestery's second goal of the playoffs.
Notes: Regina's leading scorer Jordan Eberle was suspended for one game by the WHL, while F Brett Leffler received a three-game ban. Leffler already has missed one game for an unpenalized hit on Swift Current D Michael Wilson, who suffered a concussion. Eberle received a boarding major and a game misconduct in Game 2 for his check on Broncos D Jesse Dudas, out with a broken wrist.
