WHL Playoffs Game 5: Spokane at Tri-City

It’s do or die for the Tri-City Americans tonight. It’s Game 5 of their best-of-7 series against Spokane. The Chiefs won the first two games at home, the Americans won Game 3 at home and lost Game 4 at home in OT.

The Americans also lost goalie Luke Lee-Knight in overtime in Game 4 when Spokane’s Adam Helewka slid into the net, landing on top of Lee-Knight, who landed on his left shoulder.

It was the fourth time during the game the Chiefs were in the crease on top of Lee-Knight, none of which drew a whistle from the officiating crew. I’m all for letting them play, but there has to be a limit. When you run the goalie you have gone too far.

Troy Trombley, who started the first two games in Spokane, will be back in net for the Americans. The kid came in for LLK after he was hurt, and took the loss after facing just three shots. Backing up Trombley in an emergency role, will be Richland native Casey Kaiser.

The Eastern Conference first-round series already have been decided. In the semifinals, Edmonton will play Medicine Hat, and Calgary will play Red Deer. Memorial Cup host Saskatoon will be idle until the tournament starts in Mid-May.

In the WHL highlights of the year, Tri-City’s Parker Bowles is shown scoring a goal, while goalie Luke Lee-Knight has a wicked glove save, and poor Marcus Messier getting plastered at center ice. The video is 4 minutes and 20 seconds long. Worth a look on the WHL website.

I'm looking for a big crowd tonight. No excuses.

You can follow me throughout the game on Twitter: @tchicequeen

This story was originally published March 30, 2013 at 6:26 PM with the headline "WHL Playoffs Game 5: Spokane at Tri-City."