Crazy Eights; Americans Topple Giants 8-2
November 3, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
KENNEWICK, WA - Every time the Tri-City Americans score five goals at home, all fans receive free Ranch Burgers, courtesy of Burger Ranch. On Friday night, with the League's best goaltender starting in goal for the Vancouver Giants, the owners of Burger Ranch probably thought they were safe for one more game.
Boy, were they wrong.
The Tri-City Americans (13-4-0-0, 26 pts) used a four-goal second period to rout the defending Memorial Cup champion Vancouver Giants (11-4-1-2, 25 pts) 8-2 in front of 4,323 fans at Toyota Center in Kennewick. For the Americans, it was yet another win in front of the home town fans, despite recently seeing their 20-game home winning streak snapped. It was a match-up that was billed as a contest between two of the top three teams in the Western Conference, which quickly turned into a blow out.
While on the power play, Vancouver started the scoring at the six minute mark of the first period. However, 44 seconds later, Colton Yellow Horn started a six-goal barrage over the next 40 minutes that allowed Tri-City to jump ahead 6-1. Along with Yellow Horn, Johnny Lazo, Drew Hoff, Jason Reese, Shaun Vey and Taylor Procyshen all recorded goals for Tri-City in that span that chased starting Giants' net minder, Tyson Sexsmith after two periods of play.
Vancouver' Lance Bouma added a goal, shorthanded, with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but it would hardly be enough.
While on the power play, Jarrett Toll notched his first goal of the season, followed by Lazo's second goal of the night, only 57 seconds part, to cap the Americans' scoring at 8-2. Tri-City goaltender Chet Pickard collected 31 saves on 33 shots faced, while Sexsmith had 20 saves on 25 shots through two periods. Back-up goaltender Kraymer Barnstable picked up five saves on eight shots in relief. The Americans finished 4-for-8 on the power play, while the Giants were 1-for-3 on the man-advantage. The two teams will next meet in a home-and-home series in late January.
With this impressive win now behind them, the Americans will gear-up tomorrow night in the Emerald City as they face-off against the Seattle Thunderbirds, in a key U.S. Division battle. Game time is 7:05 PM at Key Arena. You can catch all the action live, via WHL WebTV, at Kimo's Sports Café or R.F. McDougall's in Richland or on the radio on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Budweiser Warm-up Show at 6:45 PM. Tickets are still available for the Americans special Veteran's Day game on Sunday, November 11 against the Portland Winter Hawks through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer locations or online at ticketmaster.com.
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Western Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2007
- Spokane loses to Vancouver - Spokane Chiefs
- Hickey, Scott and Nielsen each get three points in 6-4 win over Tri-City - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings, Jason Earl Big Winners - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Crazy Eights; Americans Topple Giants 8-2 - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs win 3-0 - Spokane Chiefs
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