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The Tri-City Americans' three-game swing through the Central Division did not go as planned.
Playing three of the lesser teams in the WHL, the Americans returned home with a 1-2 record -- the most recent game a 7-1 loss to the Kootenay Ice.
"I think the game in Medicine Hat we weren't bad for a couple of periods, but in the third we made some poor decisions and left (Drew) Owsley hung out to dry," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "In Kootenay, we were bad. We played hockey like we would have in midgets. Nothing positive came out of that one. We want to turn the page and start fresh at home."
The U.S. Division leading Americans (16-5-0-0, 32 points) will have their work cut out for them tonight when the last-place Seattle Thunderbirds (8-12-1-3, 20 points) roll into town. It's the first of six straight home games for Tri-City, which played 14 of its first 21 games on the road.
After suffering through a slow start, injuries and the flu, the Thunderbirds are back on track. They have won four in a row -- the latest a 5-0 shellacking of Vancouver on Sunday -- and have earned points in their last five games.
"We went through a rough spell on our road trip," said Seattle coach Rob Sumner of his team losing five of six games in the Central Division. "Eighty percent of our team was sick. We battled through injuries and illness, but we are improving every day. We are starting to turn things around."
A big part of Seattle's recent success has been the play of goaltender Calvin Pickard, whose brother Chet starred for two seasons in Tri-City's nets. The second-year goalie from Winnipeg, Manitoba, went 3-0-0-0 on the road last weekend with shutouts against Vancouver and Everett. In the three games, he stopped 76 of 78 shots for a .670 goals against average and a .974 save percentage.
"Calvin is very good," Sumner said. "We have had good goaltending all along, we just have to score in front of him. We have the youngest team in the league, but our young guys are playing a lot and have learned a lot."
The Americans also have a top-notch goalie in Owsley, who leads the league with 15 wins. His numbers dropped a bit on the road, but he still ranks in the top 10 in GAA (9th, 2.63) and save percentage (8th, .910).
Tonight is the third meeting between the two teams. Seattle won the first game 1-0 and Tri-City the second 5-4 in a shootout. Both games were played in Kent.
"I thought we played decent in stretches against them in our win," Sumner said. "Calvin had an unbelievable night (57 saves)."
In the second game, the T-birds led 4-0 before the Americans rallied to tie the game.
"We aren't tricking ourselves into thinking we have their number," Sumner said. "They are a good team. They have depth, the ability to create offensively on all lines, they play a speedy game and their power play is murder to stop."
Toyota Center has been very good to the Americans this season, where they have a 7-0-0-0 record. But after playing 11 of their last 12 games on the road, the Thunderbirds are not intimidated.
"A lot of rinks in the league are challenging," said Sumner, whose team has lost its last seven in Kennewick. "There's nothing out of the ordinary about (Toyota Center)."
But there may be something extraordinary about the aging rink in the eyes of the Americans.
They have scored 38 goals -- by 12 different players -- in seven games for an average of 5.42 per game. Defensively, they have allowed just 13 for an average of 1.85 per game. On the road, those numbers are 3.28 goals scored, 3.14 allowed.
"It's nice to be home, but there is a responsibility that goes along with that," Hiller said. "We have had our share of goals, and that makes you strong when no one can zero in on one line or player. Our team is good when we have 18 players doing the same thing."
