WHL Western Hockey League

WHL Friday Night Hockey Live On FSN Northwest: Friday, February 19 - Everett Silvertips @ Tri-City A

Published on February 19, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - Johnny Lazo and the Tri-City Americans (41-15-1-2) welcome Shane Harper and the Everett Silvertips (37-19-3-1) for an important U.S. Division clash on Friday night.

Friday's contest between the Americans and Silvertips can be seen LIVE throughout the Pacific Northwest on FSN and FSN HD (7:00pm PST).

The Americans are coming off a 3-1 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Tuesday night for their second straight victory by that score line, and currently sit in first place in the U.S. Division and Western Conference standings. The Americans boast a 25-6-0 record on home ice this season, and are 111-25-0-3 at home since the start of the 2006-07 season. Lazo has scored five goals in his last four games, and leads the team with 36 markers this season.

The Silvertips are coming off a 5-2 win over the visiting Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday night for their second win in their last three outings, and jumped past the Hawks into third place in the Western Conference. The 'Tips are tied with Spokane and Tri-Cities for the fewest number of goals surrendered this season. Harper has scored three goals in his last two outings, giving him a team-leading 36 goals on the season.

It's the seventh meeting of the season between the Americans and Silvertips. The Ams have won four of six previous meetings versus Everett this season.

Elsewhere on Friday, Derek Hulak and the Saskatoon Blades (40-13-3-3) host Craig Cunningham and the Vancouver Giants (36-20-1-3) for a battle between two of the WHL's top teams.

The Blades are coming off an 8-1 thrashing of the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday for their sixth victory over their last seven games, and moved back into a tie with the Brandon Wheat Kings for first place in the East Division and Eastern Conference. Wednesday's win clinched the Blades a playoff spot for the second straight season.

The Giants are coming off an 8-3 win in Kent, WA, over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Monday for their third straight triumph, and currently hold a healthy 13-point lead for top spot in the B.C. Division. The Giants are gunning for their fifth consecutive B.C. Division crown, which would put them alongside the Kamloops Blazers as the only teams in WHL history to win five straight division crowns.

In Brandon, MB, Matt Calvert and the Brandon Wheat Kings (41-16-1-3) host Jordan Eberle and the Regina Pats (25-28-3-4) for an East Division match-up on Friday.

The Wheat Kings have been off since Monday's 4-2 win in Calgary over the Hitmen, improving them to 11-0-1 over their last 12 games and clinching them a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Wheat Kings have won seven straight games at home.

The Pats have been idle since earning a 6-1 win in Edmonton over the Oil Kings last Saturday, snapping a three-game losing skid, and currently sit seven points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Eberle has 145 career WHL regular-season goals.

In Edmonton, AB, Michael St. Croix and the Edmonton Oil Kings (12-36-4-8) welcome Cam Braes and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (17-37-4-2) for a battle between Central Division clubs.

The Oil Kings dropped their third straight decision with last Saturday's 6-1 loss to the visiting Pats, and have won just four of their last 36 games. 16-year-old St. Croix leads the Oil Kings in scoring with 34 points this season.

The Hurricanes dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday for their third consecutive setback, and currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. The 'Canes are 9-20-0-2 on the road this season.

In Kamloops, B.C., Chase Schaber and the Kamloops Blazers (27-29-2-4) host Prab Rai and the Seattle Thunderbirds (14-34-6-4).

The Blazers are coming off a 7-0 loss to the visiting Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday for their second straight defeat, and currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference. Wednesday's defeat was the worst shutout loss on home ice in Blazers' history.

The Thunderbirds fell 1-0 in overtime to the Chilliwack Bruins on Tuesday, stretching their losing skid to 14 games, and remain in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Thunderbirds have scored a League-low 134 goals this season.

In Kelowna, B.C., Brandon McMillan and the Kelowna Rockets (29-26-2-3) host Tyler Fiddler and the Calgary Hitmen (41-17-1-1) for a rematch of the 2009 WHL Championship series.

The Rockets have been off since dropping a 4-3 decision in a shootout to the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Saturday for their second setback in their last three games, and currently occupy sixth place in the Western Conference. The Rockets' power play is operating at a 28.6 per cent success rate at home.

The Hitmen are coming off a 5-1 win over the visiting Prince George Cougars on Wednesday for their ninth win in their last 10 games, and currently lead the Central Division. The Hitmen need to gain two more points or for Prince Albert to drop two points to clinch a playoff spot.

In Cranbrook, B.C., Dustin Sylvester and the Kootenay Ice (37-18-3-2) welcome Mitch Wahl and the Spokane Chiefs (36-20-3-1) on Friday.

The Ice are coming off a 2-1 setback to the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday, snapping a three-game winning streak, and currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Sylvester (32g-50a) leads the Ice in scoring with 82 points.

The Chiefs pushed their winning streak to five games with a 7-0 shutout victory in Kamloops on Wednesday, and currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. Wahl has piled up three goals and 15 assists for 18 points over his last seven games.

In Red Deer, AB, Landon Ferraro and the Red Deer Rebels (34-22-0-4) take on Jesse Forsberg and the Prince George Cougars (11-44-1-2).

The Rebels had a four-game winning streak snapped with an 8-1 defeat in Saskatoon on Wednesday night, but remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Rebels own a 21-7-0-2 record at home this season.

The Cougars were topped 5-1 in Calgary by the Hitmen on Wednesday night for their third loss in a row. The Cougars' penalty killing unit is operating at just 66.7 per cent efficiency on the road this season.

In other WHL action on Friday, Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos (31-27-0-4) welcome Kevin Sundher and the Chilliwack Bruins (26-28-1-5).

The Broncos skated to a 4-1 win in Lethbridge on Wednesday for their third straight victory, and currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Eakin leads the Broncos with 40 goals this season.

The Bruins are coming off a 1-0 overtime win over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday, snapping a two-game slide, and currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. Sundher (23g-29a) ranks second on the Bruins with 52 points.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2010


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