Print
Email Story
KENNEWICK -- Think the Tri-City Americans missed playing at home?
After playing eight of their last nine games on the road, the Americans returned to Toyota Center on Tuesday night and quickly lit up the goal light, scoring five goals in the first period en route to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds before a crowd of 3,693.
The U.S. Division-leading Americans (17-5-0-0, 34 points), who have won all eight games at home, ended Seattle's four-game win streak and handed the Thunderbirds (8-13-1-3, 20 points) their eighth consecutive loss at Toyota Center.
"We always like to be (home)," said Hiller, whose team is the only one in the league which has not lost on home ice this season. "The bounces went our way tonight, but give Seattle credit, they made a game of it. They were dangerous late in the game. They are a much improved team and they are playing with confidence."
The Thunderbirds held the Americans scoreless the last two periods, but the damage had already been done.
"We lost the game in the first 10 minutes," said Seattle coach Rob Sumner. "We dug ourselves an early hole and we were on our heels the rest of the way. We showed good character in that we didn't quit, but on the other hand, we can't do that. We didn't give ourselves a chance."
It took the Americans just four minutes to get their game on track as Neal Prokop beat Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard at the left post. Justin Feser followed three minutes later on the power play, and Tyler Schmidt gave Tri-City a 3-0 lead at 8:41 with another power-play goal.
Johnny Lazo redirected a shot by Brendan Shinnimin into the net at 12:25 for a 4-0 lead before Seattle's Prab Rai finally got the puck past Tri-City goaltender Drew Owsley at 17:35.
Tri-City answered with 58 seconds left in the first period as Jarrett Toll kept the puck in at the blue line, Kruise Reddick brought it down to the left circle and made a nice cross-ice pass to Brooks Macek, who gave the Americans a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead.
Seattle rallied back in the second with a pair of goals by Jeremy Schappert and Jonathan Parker to cut the deficit to 5-3.
"We kind of lost focus a bit," said Lazo, who also had an assist to go along with his goal. "We weren't surprised they came back, we just weren't ready."
The Thunderbirds pulled Pickard the last 2:15 of the game for an extra attacker, but failed to get anything past Owsley, who finished with 27 saves in posting his league-leading 16th win.
Pickard, who finished with 27 saves, shut out the Americans in the second and third.
"We all know Calvin is a good goalie and that he'd shut the door," Lazo said. "They are a hot team right now."
NOTES: Shinnimin ranks 15th among WHL skaters in the NHL Central Scouting fall preliminary rankings of Canadian Hockey League players who are eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He is the only Tri-City player on the list. Pickard, who was named CHL goaltender of the week, is listed as the top-ranked goalie. ... Schmidt played his 200th WHL game -- all with the Americans. ... With their win Friday night in Lethbridge, the Americans won their 700th game in franchise history.
* Annie Fowler: 509-582-1574; afowler@tricityherald.com
