Monday, Apr. 28, 2008

Ams look to even up

By Annie Fowler, Herald staff writer

If the Western Conference finals follows the path it has taken the last five games, the Tri-City Americans should be on tap to win Game 6 tonight in Spokane and bring the series back to Toyota Center on Tuesday for Game 7.

The Chiefs lead the series 3-2 after winning the first, third and fifth games of the series, while the Americans, seeking their first Western Conference title, won the second and fourth games.

Tonight, it's win or hand in the gear for the Americans.

"We have to overcome some obstacles, and that means going into Spokane and winning," said Tri-City coach Don Nachbaur, whose team has won five games at The Spokane Arena this season. "We've done it in the past, and there's no reason we can't do it one more time. We knew it would be this tough of a series based on the regular season. We don't think anyone is disappointed. We are disappointed we are down 3-2, but we've played hard."

Though it's Game 6, the two teams have played the equivalent of six-plus games already -- 369 minutes, 21 seconds -- with one game going to overtime and three games going into double overtime.

But with what's on the line, both teams would play all night, if that's what it takes.

"Both teams know what's on the line. We are fighting to keep playing," said Spokane coach Bill Peters. "We want to continue to play and stay together as a team. We don't want this to end.

"Both teams will be hungry and both will be desperate. We will be wanting to push them over the edge, while they will be hanging on for all they're worth, and we know they're worth a lot. It will be a hell of a hockey game."

The series has featured good goaltending, and the two teams have the best goalies in the playoffs tending net.

Spokane's Dustin Tokarski sports a 1.41 goals against average and a .946 save percentage, while the Americans' Chet Pickard is a 1.76 and .938. Each have three shutouts.

"This is the kind of hockey you dream of playing, said Americans defenseman T.J. Fast. "These guys are having a lot of fun. We all know what is on the line and we will come out Monday and give it our best."

And the Chiefs know they will have to be ready.

"They are down a game and we are going to have to come out and match their intensity," said Spokane's Judd Blackwater, who scored the game winner in Game 5. "We have to stick to our game plan and not get ahead of ourselves."

-- Americans forward Drew Hoff was upended by Blackwater behind the Americans' net at 2:32 of the second period Saturday. Hoff, who has three goals in the playoffs, left the ice under his own power, but did not return to the game. His status for tonight's game is unknown. ... The winner of the Western Conference final will meet Lethbridge for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The Hurricanes beat the Calgary Hitmen 4-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. The Lethbridge coaches were on hand Saturday night to watch Spokane win 4-3 in double ovetime.

• Comments
• Add Comment
• Disclaimer