WHL Tri-City Americans

Americans' Road Woes Continue, Lose 5-3 to Portland

Published on March 5, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


PORTLAND, OR. The Tri-City Americans (30-31-2-1, 63 pts) were hoping to get their first win in Portland since November of 2013. The Portland Winterhawks (33-27-4-0, 70 pts) had other plans. Blake Heinrich scored 2 goals for Portland, including the game winner midway through the 2nd, to help the Winterhawks hand the Americans their 4th straight road loss, with a 5-3 decision Friday night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in front of 7,498 fans.

It had been nearly 6 weeks since these U.S. division rivals had met, and the pace of the game early showed it. There were very few shots or chances for either team through nearly the first 15 minutes of the opening period. That would change as Portland was handed there 2nd power play of the game after Tri-City defenseman Brandon Carlo was called for interference at the 13:07 mark. Ryan Hughes was able to slip a rebound past Americans goaltender Evan Sarthou at 14:27 and the Winterhawks had the early 1-0 lead. Dominic Turgeon added his 31st goal of the season at 18:25 and Portland started to look like they may run away with this one. Just 30 seconds later, however, Michael Rasmussen got the Americans on the board by banging home a juicy rebound off of a Vladislav Lukin shot. The Americans headed to the 1st intermission only down by 1.

Neither team was able to convert early power play opportunities in the 2nd, but Portland would regain its 2 goal lead on a Cody Glass goal at 4:18. Tensions began to run high between the two familiar teams in the frame, and the pace began to increase. Just under 90 seconds after the Glass goal, Parker Bowles found Tyler Sandhu all alone to the left side of Portland net minder Aidan Hill. Bowles fed a beautiful pass to Sandhu across the crease, and Sandhu knocked home his 17th of the season into a wide-open net. The Americans were again back to within 1. Portland was able to grab the 2-goal lead back, however, as Blake Heinrich rushed off the boards in the Americans zone to slip one past Sarthou at 8:54 of the period. The Americans refused to go quietly into the 2nd intermission though. Juuso Välimäki, playing in his first game since February 12th, had his shot redirected by Vladislav Lukin to pull the Americans back to within 1. Tri-City kept the pressure on Portland to finish out the period, and once again it looked like an exciting finish was coming.

Unfortunately, Aidan Hill stopped all 7 Tri-City shots he faced in the 3rd, and Heinrich added his 2nd of the night for Portland into an empty net to give the Winterhawks the 5-3 victory. The Americans wrapped up the 10-game season series by going 3-6-1 against the Winterhawks.

Sarthou stopped 28 of the 32 shots he faced in the loss for Tri-City while Hill made 27 saves on 30 shots in the win for Portland. The Americans were 0-for-2 on the power play and recorded 17 penalty minutes while Portland went 1-for-4 on the power play and recorded 13 penalty minutes.

The loss puts a tremendous damper on the Americans playoff chances as they now sit 6 points back of the Spokane Chiefs (30-25-5-4, 69 pts) for the 8th and final Western Conference playoff spot. The Americans will travel north for their next game, tomorrow, against the Everett Silvertips (36-21-4-3, 79 pts). Tri-City lost the last game in Everett, 3-2, on February 28th. Game time is 7:05pm. You can listen to the game on NewsTalk 870 or watch the game through WHL Live or at Kimo's, your Americans home away from home.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2016


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