WHL Tri-City Americans

Americans Sweep Giants with 5-1 Win; Advance to Conference Semi-Finals

Published on March 31, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


VANCOUVER, BC - The Americans have owned the third period thus far in the playoffs and it is a major reason why they moved onto the Conference Semi-Finals for a fourth consecutive season.

Mason Wilgosh scored twice and set-up another, all in the third period, as the #4 Tri-City Americans (4-0-0, 8 pts) broke open Game 4 in route to a 5-1 win over the #5 Vancouver Giants (0-3-1, 0 pts) in front of 7,064 fans at Pacific Coliseum. With the win, the Americans swept the best-of-seven opening round series with the Giants 4 games to 0, while improving their season-high winning streak to seven games. Meanwhile, the Giants' season comes to an end at the hands of the Americans for a second straight season. It marked just the second time the Giants have been swept in a playoff series and the first since 2003.

In almost a carbon copy image of last night's Game 3, the Americans found themselves taking an early lead, and then clinging to a one-goal lead after two periods of play.

Only 2:11 into the first period, Jordan Messier took a feed out of the left corner from Wilgosh, who then slipped a backhander past the outstretched glove of Mark Segal.

But, less than seven minutes later, Giants' playmaker Brendan Gallagher made a big one to knot the game. After he blocked a Tyler Schmidt shot, Gallagher broke into the Tri-City zone with Spencer Bennett in tow. Rather than pass, Gallagher elected to shoot, finding space over Drew Owsley's glove for his second goal of the post-season.

However, with two minutes remaining in the first, and on the power play, Adam Hughesman put a pass right onto the blade of Carter Ashton's stick, who then redirected it through the pads of Segal. Ashton's second goal of the playoffs made it a 2-1 Tri-City lead, as the teams headed into the first intermission.

After outshooting the Giants 10 to 5 through the first 20 minutes, the Americans nearly doubled up Vancouver again in the second, finishing with a 19 to 10 shot advantage after two periods of play. But, unlike the first period, Tri-City could not squeeze anything past Segal, holding tight to their 2-1 lead headed into the third.

The third period was a different story, though, as Tri-City held off the Giants while adding three more to pad their lead. In the series, the Americans outscored Vancouver 7 to 0 in the third period.

At the 6:09 mark of the third, the Americans made it a two-goal game after Justin Feser's wrist shot rode up the stick of Segal and over the netminder's shoulder. Then, just 21 seconds later, Wilgosh netted his first goal of the game when he followed up on a Brock Sutherland rebound. Finally, with 50.3 seconds left in the period, Wilgosh beat back-up goaltender, Brendan Jensen, with a shot from the right circle.

Owsley, who finished with 17 saves on 18 shots, lowered his playoff goals against average to 1.38 while winning his fourth straight playoff game and 16th of his career. Meanwhile, Segal, who was tagged with the loss, allowed four goals on 24 shots through 46:30 of work before Jensen stopped 3 of the 4 shots he faced in the final 13:30 of relief. Tri-City finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 3-of-3 on the penalty kill.

The Americans, based on regular season points, will now re-seed at #3 from here on out, but will have to sit and wait to see when their next playoff series will start. Also tonight, Kelowna, who will take the #4 spot, advanced to the next round following their sweep of Prince George. #1-seed Portland took a 3-0 lead over #8 Everett, while an overtime win saw #6 Chilliwack pull to within one of #3 Spokane, which leads their series 2 games to 1. Fans are encouraged to check the Americans' website, www.amshockey.com, for updated information regarding the Americans' 2011 WHL Playoff run. Once a playoff schedule and opponent are determined, tickets will go on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer outlets, or online at ticketmaster.com.

Applebee's 3 Stars:

1, Mason Wilgosh, Tri-City

2, Carter Ashton, Tri-City

3, Jordan Messier, Tri-City

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2011


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