Brendan Shinnimin scored the game-winning goal with just 32.2 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 5-4 victory Wednesday over the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rexall Place.
The Americans (35-11-0-1, 71 points), 4-0 against the Central Division, trail the Kamloops Blazers by one point in the race for the Scotty Munro trophy, given to the team with the best record in the WHL.
The Oil Kings (32-11-2-4, 70 points), who lead the Eastern Conference, saw their three-game win streak come to an end.
"It was a good hockey game," Tri-City coach Jim Hiller said. "Great chances both ways and both goalies were outstanding. We fought hard tonight. They were good. They had us on our heels at times, but we kept coming back."
The Americans led 4-3 early in the third with goals by Shinnimin and Malte Strmwall, but the Oil Kings came back with a goal by Martin Gernat to tie the score.
Edmonton, which outshot Tri-City 18-8 in the first, had a 1-0 lead to show for its efforts with a goal by T.J. Foster.
The Americans, who dropped to third in this week's CHL poll, bounced back in the second period, getting goals from Patrick Holland and Justin Feser.
Holland, taking the puck from Rimmer, went end to end and beat Edmonton goalie Laurent Brossoit between the pads to tie the score at 1. Brossoit finished with 39 saves.
Feser followed 39 seconds later, scoring just 7 seconds into a power play, to give Tri-City a 2-1 lead.
Griffin Reinhart scored twice in a span of 1:29 late in the second to put the Oil Kings out front 3-2.
Ty Rimmer, who had lost his last four starts, finished with 42 saves for Tri-City to pick up his 20th win of the season. Adam Hughesman and Zach Yuen added two assists each.
The Americans learned Tuesday that captain Mason Wilgosh will miss an undetermined amount of time with a lower-body injury.
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Rimmer, Ams shut out Silvertips
Rimmer, Ams shut out Silvertips
EVERETT -- Home or on the road, the Tri-City Americans keep on winning.
Ty Rimmer picked up his second consecutive shutout, and Brendan Shinnimin and Malte Strmwall each had a goal and an assist Saturday night to lead the Americans to a 4-0 victory over the Everett Silvertips at Comcast Arena.
"You know what? I really liked us tonight," Tri-City coach Jim Hiller said. "We played a solid game. Every facet of the game -- special teams, goaltending, forechecks -- everything was working."
Game Day: Giants at Americans
Game Day: Giants at Americans
I want to thank all of you who took the time to read the 2012 Best of the West poll. Through Tuesday afternoon, 4,998 people had logged on to view the 24th annual poll, not to mention those of you who read it in the paper.
And a bigger thank you to all the players, coaches and management who took the time to fill out the ballots. These are the guys to truly know the players in the league and what they are capable of.
I think the WHL should take a look at their pool of officials. With 53 ballots coming back, and 212 slots to list names of referees, only 158 spots were filling in. Ballots included such comments as “none worth voting for,” and “none are worthy of a vote.” One had Andy Thiessen’s name on all four lines (he got just one vote). I think the blank lines speak for themselves.
Kamloops hammers Americans 5-1
Kamloops hammers Americans 5-1
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia -- The Tri-City Americans lost ground in the race for the Scotty Munro trophy Wednesday after dropping a 5-1 game to the Kamloops Blazers at Interior Savings Centre.
The Blazers (38-12-1-3) lead the Western Hockey League with 80 points, two ahead of the Edmonton Oil Kings (36-12-2-4, 78 points) and four in front of Tri-City, though the Americans (37-13-1-1) have two games in hand on both teams.
Kamloops won this season's four-game series 3-1.
Americans fall to Red Deer 3-2 in overtime
Americans fall to Red Deer 3-2 in overtime
RED DEER, Alberta -- Mathew Dumba scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the Red Deer Rebels to a 3-2 victory Friday over the Tri-City Americans at Enmax Centrium.
The Americans (35-11-1-1) are tied atop the Western Hockey League standings with the Kamloops Blazers and the Edmonton Oil Kings with 72 points.
Red Deer (22-21-1-4, 49 points) which has won two in a row, is in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind the eighth-place Brandon Wheat Kings.
Ams fall to Kamloops in first-place battle
Ams fall to Kamloops in first-place battle
KENNEWICK -- With first place in the Western Conference on the line, it was only fitting the game came down to a shootout.
Chase Schaber and Bronson Maschmeyer scored in the shootout to give the Kamloops Blazers a 4-3 victory Saturday over the Tri-City Americans before a rowdy announced crowd of 5,131 at Toyota Center.
"A great game between two of the top teams," said Tri-City forward Brendan Shinnimin, who had a goal and an assist. "I thought we had a chance to win. We had a lot of opportunities in the third. Their goalie stood on his head, and they beat us in the shootout.
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