Ams Take Game 4 in OT; One Win Shy of Western Conference Finals
Published on April 10, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
SEATTLE, WA - With a point in every 2008 Playoff game to date, Colton Yellow Horn was not about to see his playoff scoring streak end just yet.
Just 45 seconds into overtime, Yellow Horn redirected a Taylor Procyshen shot, past goaltender Jacob DeSerres, to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 4 of their best-of-seven, second round series. For Yellow Horn, it was his sixth goal and 15th point of the post-season. Now holding a hard-fought 3-1 series lead, Tri-City will head back to Toyota Center for Game 5 on Friday, April 11 with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1999 Playoffs. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
As has been the case all series, special teams played a major factor, as all five goals involved the power play. And, as it was in Game 3, it was the T'birds that got things started. Entering the night, Seattle was bogged down in a 1-for 24 power play slump against Tri-City, but Ian McKenzie made folks forget all about it, as he recorded his eighth goal of the playoff and put Seattle on top 1-0.
But, with less than three minutes remaining in the first period, Shaun Vey continued his hot streak, collecting his third goal in as many games on a rebound shot by Procyshen. Vey, who is Tri-City's second-leading scoring in the post-season, has five points through four games of the Seattle series.
Midway through the second period and the score still tied at 1, it was the T'birds' power play again making news, just in a different way. Playing shorthanded, Kruise Reddick jumped in front of a Seattle pass and raced down the ice on DeSerres. All alone, Reddick went top shelf, over DeSerres, to pick up his first goal of the playoffs and put Tri-City ahead 2-1. It was the first shorthanded goal of the post-season for Tri-City, who led the League in shorthanded tallies (22) during the regular season.
The lead lasted less than five minutes, however, as Seattle's power play redeemed themselves at the 14:04 mark of the second period. Greg Scott wrapped in a Brenden Dillon shot, past Chet Pickard, for his fifth goal of the post-season.
After a tough third period, featuring a combined 28 shots, the game remained knotted at 2 and headed to overtime. But, with 22 seconds remaining in regulation, Seattle's Benn Olson was called for holding, setting the stage for Yellow Horn and the deadly Tri-City power play unit. Once into overtime, Tri-City needed just one shot to end the game and head back home with a sweep of the T'birds at Key Arena. Both teams finished 2-for-5 on the man-advantage, while the Americans outshot Seattle 40 to 33.
With a break Thursday, the T'birds will look to stave off elimination on Friday, April 11 and force a Game 6 back at Key Arena on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Americans will look to end the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since Scott Gomez and Co. went in 1999. Coincidently, the team Tri-City had defeated to reach the Western Conference Finals was the Seattle Thunderbirds. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer outlets, or online at ticketmaster.com.
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