WHL Tri-City Americans

Rattie Lifts 'Hawks Past Americans in Overtime 5-4

Published on April 22, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - In Game 2, it was death by overtime again for the Americans.

Short-handed, Ty Rattie capped off his third hat trick of the playoffs, leading the Portland Winterhawks (10-3-0, 20 pts) to a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Tri-City Americans (8-0-5, 16 pts) in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in front of 4,092 fans inside the Toyota Center. With the win, the Winterhawks take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Portland on Wednesday for Game 3. Meanwhile, Tri-City dropped back-to-back games for the first time this post-season and, in the process, fell to 1-5 in overtime.

Tri-City jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Saturday night, one of three 2-goal leads they'd hold in the contest. Four and a half minutes into the 1st period, and on the power play, Jordan Messier redirected a Brendan Shinnimin shot just over the left pad of Mac Carruth, notching his first goal of the post-season. Then, at the 8:50 mark, Adam Hughesman tipped in Mitch Topping's shot from the point for his 7th playoff marker.

After the early deficit, though, Portland slowly started to turn the tides, outchancing Tri-City 14 to 6 by the end of the period. And, with 6:21 left in the first while playing 5-on-3, Rattie scored his first of the night, pulling Portland to within 1.

However, another man-advantage opportunity to kick-off the 2nd period allowed Tri-City to reclaim their two-goal cushion. Connecting on a Messier rebound, Patrick Holland scored his third goal of the series and 5th in his last 4 games.

But, 13 minutes later, Portland responded again to make it a 3-2 game after 2 periods of play. Brad Ross book-ended a great shift by the 'Hawks when we wound up uncovered in the slot, then backhanded his 10th playoff goal past Ty Rimmer.

Kicking off the 3rd period, Tri-City again took a two-goal lead after Justin Feser tipped in Zachary Yuen's shot from the point. Feser, who was crossing in front of the crease, lifted Yuen's shot over the shoulder of Carruth to make it 4-2.

Portland, though, would make another late run, pulling back to within one when Joey Baker knocked in his first career playoff goal 9:55 into the 3rd period. Then, still trailing by 1 late in the game, Tri-City's Nathan MacMaster was assessed a boarding penalty after Joseph Morrow's stick was caught up in the boards and snapped. Less than a minute later, and off the stick of Rattie, the 'Hawks used the ensuing power play to knot the game at 4 and send the contest into overtime.

Once in the extra session, the two teams combined for 16 shots on goal. Tri-City was handed a golden opportunity at the 6:47 mark after Derek Pouliot was sent to the box for slashing. But, less than a minute later, Rattie forced a turnover and broke in on Rimmer with Sven Bartschi in tow. Electing to shoot, Rattie beat Rimmer over his glove to end the game.

It was another tough loss for Rimmer, who finished with 43 saves. Rimmer, who has yet to lose a game in regulation this post-season, fell to 8-0-5. Meanwhile, Carruth turned aside 34 of the 38 shots he faced in the win. Tri-City finished the night 2-for-7 on the power play, while Portland went 2-of-4 on the man-advantage.

Both squads will now get a couple of days to catch their breath before the series continues on Wednesday, April 25 with Game 3 inside the Rose Garden. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Fans can catch all the action live, via WHL Live, at Kimo's, the Americans' home away from home, starting at 7:00 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

Notes:

Rattie's hat trick against Tri-City was the first by a playoff opponent since Tyler Maxwell did it on March 21, 2009 in Everett's 3-2 win over Tri-City at the Toyota Center. It is the 8th time in Tri-City history that an opposing player has recorded a hat trick in a playoff game...Rattie is the first-ever Portland player to do it and the first-ever player to end an overtime game with a short-handed goal against Tri-City.

Applebee's 3 Stars:

1, Ty Rattie, Portland

2, Derek Pouliot, Portland

3, Patrick Holland, Tri-City

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 22, 2012


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