Sunday, Oct. 05, 2008

Americans fall 5-1 at Saskatoon

HERALD STAFF

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan -- Burke Gallimore scored a pair of goals and Saskatoon ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 Western Hockey League victory Saturday over the Tri-City Americans.

The Americans (3-2), who trailed 2-1 after two periods, gave up three goals in a span of 7:28 to start the third. Despite outshooting the Blades 13-8 in the period, they failed to put the puck in the net.

Tri-City is 1-13 with two ties all-time at Credit Union Centre, with its only win a 7-1 victory on Feb. 27, 1996.

Travis Toomey gave the Blades (2-4) a 3-1 lead at 3:22 of the third, followed by Gallimore's second goal of the game, which found it's way into the net past Tri-City goalie Chet Pickard at 7:02.

Gallimore's goal ended Pickard's night with 12:58 to play, and backup Drew Owsley didn't fare much better, getting scored on just 26 seconds into his tour.

The Blades took a 2-0 lead just 3:31 into the game as Gallimore put the puck over Pickard's glove and Josh Nicholls clanked the puck off the post and into the net.

The Americans' lone goal came at 14:01 of the first as Brett Plouffe blasted the puck past Saskatoon netminder Braden Holtby from mid-point. Holtby finished with 32 saves for his first win of the season.

Pickard had 23 saves, while Owsley had four in relief.

Tri-City, 1-1 on its swing through the East Division, will play at Swift Current on Tuesday and at Moose Jaw on Wednesday. The Americans take their show on the road to Brandon on Friday and Regina next Saturday.