SPOKANE -- The Tri-City Americans had lost five straight to the Spokane Chiefs, but Friday night they won the one that mattered most.
Jordan Messier scored the game-winner with 7:37 left in the game as the Americans kept their hopes alive for a third straight U.S. Division title, beating the Chiefs 4-3 before a crowd of 10,528 at Spokane Arena.
"It was a really good game," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "You don't come into this building without everyone pulling on the same rope. A lot of good stuff had to happen other than the big stuff. They laid it on the line."
The Americans (47-21-1-2, 97 points), who never trailed in the game, play host to Spokane tonight. A victory would give the Americans the division title and the Western Conference title, regardless of the outcome of tonight's Everett game with Chilliwack, or the Everett-Spokane game on Sunday.
"We've worked hard all year to play big games, and (today) is another big game," Hiller said. "This is a pretty good group of hockey players we have."
Spokane (43-21-3-2, 91 points) needs at least one point today or Sunday to clinch the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Messier's goal came seven minutes after Spokane's Tyler Johnson had tied the game at 3 with a power-play goal.
Rookie Zach Yuen was able to hold the puck in at the point and Messier swept the puck past Spokane goalie James Reid as he slid across the ice.
Brett Plouffe scored a power-play goal in the first for the Americans, while Justin Feser had a short-handed tally and Kruise Reddick a power-play goal in the second.
Alex Pechurskiy finished with 29 saves, including several late in the third period as the Chiefs played the last 1:34 of the game on the power play.
Blake Gal and Brett Bartman also scored for the Chiefs, who got 33 saves from James Reid.
Similar stories:
Americans hold off Chiefs 5-3
Americans hold off Chiefs 5-3
SPOKANE -- Brendan Shinnimin had two goals and an assist to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 5-3 victory Saturday over the Spokane Chiefs at Spokane Arena.
The win keeps the Americans (38-14-1-1, 78 points) one point ahead of Portland (37-15-2-1) in the race for the U.S. Division title.
"Tonight, I thought, was our biggest game of the year," Tri-City coach Jim Hiller said. "Not playing well last night and coming into a tough building, it was a great win.
Ams run out of steam in Spokane
Ams run out of steam in Spokane
SPOKANE -- Playing their third road game in four days, the Tri-City Americans finally ran out of gas Saturday night.
Dominik Uher had two goals and one assist to lead Spokane to a 5-3 win over the Americans before a crowd of 9,667 at Spokane Arena.
Tri-City (33-9-0-0, 66 points), which has lost two of its last three games, saw its lead in the Western Hockey League trimmed to one point with the loss.
Ams ring up another one
Ams ring up another one
Last year's New Year's Eve bash between the Tri-City Americans and Spokane Chiefs was put on ice because of a hole in the ice. Saturday night, the only hole was the one Spokane dug for itself.
Patrick Holland had a four-point night with a goal and three assists, and Justin Feser had a goal and two assists to lead the Americans to a 4-1 win over the Chiefs before a packed house of 6,034 at Toyota Center.
"This was pretty cool," Holland said. "The third-best attendance in team history. We get great fans every night, and that's a big help for us. Teams hate coming in here."
Ams win streak at 11 with 5-0 win over Moose Jaw
Ams win streak at 11 with 5-0 win over Moose Jaw
KENNEWICK -- In a battle between division leaders, the Tri-City Americans defended home ice Wednesday night in a tilt against the East-leading Moose Jaw Warriors.
Ty Rimmer had 42 saves, and Brendan Shinnimin and Jordan Messier each had two goals to lead the Americans to a 5-0 win over the Warriors before an announced Toyota Center crowd of 3,598.
The Americans (30-7-0-0), who lead the U.S. Division and Western Hockey League with 60 points, set a franchise record with their 11th consecutive win. They also have won 11 in a row on home ice.
Americans rally past Ice 5-4 on road
Americans rally past Ice 5-4 on road
CRANBROOK, British Columbia -- Brendan Shinnimin scored two goals and had two assists, and Adam Hughesman added a goal and three assists to rally the
Tri-City Americans to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night over the Kootenay Ice at the Cranbrook Recreation Complex.
"It was one of those games we haven't seen a lot of this year," Americans coach Jim Hiller said. "It was a good win against a really good team and a solid goaltender (Nathan Lieuwen). We scored some really nice goals, some goals that have been missing this year."
The Americans' Central Division trip will continue Friday at Medicine Hat and Saturday at Lethbridge.
Print
Email Story
