KENNEWICK -- Four games in five nights is never easy.
When you add in 1,700 miles on the bus, bruises, scrapes, stitches, the flu and a knee injury to starting goaltender Drew Owsley, it gets even uglier, but the Tri-City Americans weathered the storm to finish 2-1-0-1 before they pulled into the parking lot at Toyota Center early Wednesday morning.
"We hadn't been on the road in a while, but we got 5 of 8 points, and with the travel and the teams that we played, we are pleased with that," Americans general manager Bob Tory said. "We played Portland and Spokane in there, and games like that make you stronger."
The Americans (35-15-2-2, 74 points), fourth in the Western Conference standings, will play host to Chilliwack (24-27-2-2, 52 points) tonight and Spokane (35-16-4-2, 76 points) on Saturday, for their first home games since Feb. 4.
Just a few players took to the ice Thursday, while others tried to recover from the flu and heal up before taking on the Bruins and Chiefs.
"This time of year, practice is important, but rest and recovery is just as important," Tory said. "We have another 4 in 5."
Americans captain Kruise Reddick, a five-year veteran of the evils of long trips, said it was good to be home.
"It was a tough road trip," he said. "It's nice to be home for a few. We will be feeding off the fans, for sure."
Owsley, who was hurt last Saturday at Spokane, has a left knee sprain. Rookie Chris Driedger will get both starts this weekend, with affiliate player Cam Gorchynski of the Victoria Grizzlies (British Columbia Hockey League) in the backup role.
The Americans have Gorchynski's services until Wednesday. The Grizzlies allowed him to miss a playoff game Saturday.
"The positive is that we have been through (player absences) before with me, Shinny (Brendan Shinnimin) and Proks (Neal Prokop)," Reddick said. "Ows is one of the best in the league, and it is sad, but Driedger is ready to steal the show for a couple of weeks, and we'll be there to back him."
With valuable points on the line with just 18 regular-season games remaining, Tory is confident Driedger will get the job done.
"Chris is a good goalie," Tory said. "He went to the U17 (World Hockey Challenge). He wouldn't be on our team if he wasn't a good goalie. He has shouldered the load the last couple games. It's not the first time we have had a goalie go down."
Driedger, 16, is 3-1-0-1 this season, having played 517 minutes over 13 games. All goalies like to be in net as much as possible, but not at the expense of an injury to a teammate.
"When it happened, I thought he'd be fine," Driedger said, recounting Owsley's injury. "Then he was down for a while, and I thought, 'I'd better get my helmet on.' You're kind of happy on the inside because you get to play, but it's a bad circumstance, for sure, but you have to jump on the opportunity and make the most of it."
Driedger picked up the win Sunday in Chilliwack before taking a shootout loss at Kamloops on Tuesday.
"In the shootout, I was nervous," Driedger admitted. "They had some good guys shooting on me, and they had some good moves. I'll be ready next time."
Driedger said knowing he will get the start gives him more confidence. Knowing the rest of the team will have his back raises his confidence level a notch.
"Since they know I have the start the next couple of weeks, it's not a big deal," Driedger said. "They are more confident in me, and they encourage me. It's nice to know they aren't nervous when I'm out there. This is an opportunity for me to establish myself in the league."
* Annie Fowler: 509-582-1574; afowler@tricityherald.com
