KENNEWICK -- The Tri-City Americans pulled away from Toyota Center on Monday with a 2-0 lead over the Chilliwack Bruins in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Tri-City beat Chilliwack 4-2 on Friday and 8-1 on Saturday to take command of the series, which resumes today with Game 3 at Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. Game 4 will be Wednesday, also in Chilliwack.
Though a 2-0 lead would give comfort to some, Americans coach Jim Hiller still is cautious of the Bruins.
"We have played them six times, we respect how they play and we know they will be tough at home," Hiller said. "We have a few things to work on. We made some poor decisions without the puck, and we need to be sharper in some areas."
Goaltending is one area Hiller won't have to stress over.
Drew Owsley has done a good job keeping the Bruins at bay. In two games, he allowed just two goals (both on Friday) and has not allowed a goal in 57 minutes, 8 seconds. He has a 1.08 goals against average and a .968 save percentage in the series.
"We can't get too high," Owsley said. "They are a good team and they have shown that in both games. We are going to have to play hard to get two wins in their house."
The Americans, who trailed most of Game 1, took charge of the second game from the start and have outscored the Bruins 12-3. Fifteen different players have points, with eight scoring goals. Brendan Shinnimin (3 goals, 1 assist), Kruise Reddick (2 goals, 2 assists) and Justin Feser (4 assists) lead Tri-City with four points apiece.
Despite the difference in the game scores, Shinnimin isn't about to start making plans for the second round.
"It's never over until you win four games," Shinnimin said. "We haven't had any success in their barn this year. It will be a grind to get a couple of wins up there. There are areas we have to tighten up -- we are giving up too many shots and we need to tighten up the D-zone. We have to bring our game and match their intensity."
The hard-charging Bruins have come out at the start of both games in punishing fashion, but in Game 2, Chilliwack started to lose its composure and gave up six power-play goals.
"They came out quick in the second and third and I didn't like the way we played in the third," said Bruins coach Marc Habscheid, whose team took seven minor penalties in the third period that led to four power-play goals. "That's not what the Bruins are about. We know we can play with them. We have to hold court at home."
And get production from their top players.
Jesse Craige leads the Bruin with two playoff points -- both assists -- while Ryan Howse, Roman Horak and Dylen McKinlay have goals. Kevin Sundher and Brandon Manning have yet to step up.
"We need our best players to be our best players," Habscheid said. "Ryan (Howse) had some chances, but he has to bury them -- that's his role. We score by committee, but our offensive guys have to find a way to produce and rise to the occasion. That's what the playoffs are about."
NOTES: With his hat trick Saturday, Brendan Shinnimin became just the sixth player in Tri-City history to record a three-goal game in the playoffs, joining Stu Barnes, Chad Cabana, Daymond Langkow, Jaroslav Svejkovsky and Colton Yellow Horn. ... Saturday's 8-1 victory also marked the highest postseason offensive output by the Americans since March 31, 1996, against Kelowna -- a 10-4 Tri-City victory.
* Annie Fowler: 509-582-1574; afowler@tricityherald.com
