Bruins Make Come Back Count In 4-3 OT Win Over Americans
March 27, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
KENNEWICK, WA - For the second consecutive game, the Tri-City Americans saw a 3-1 lead vanish by the end of regulation. This time, in Game 5, overtime was not as kind.
With 1:34 remaining in their season, Ryan Howse forced overtime when he tied the game at 3 apiece. Then, at the 7:16 mark of overtime, Roman Horak was credited with the game-winner as the Chilliwack Bruins (2-2-1, 4 pts) rebounded to defeat the Tri-City Americans (3-1-1, 6 pts) 4-3 in front of 3,667 fans at the Toyota Center. With the win, the Bruins extended their season for at least one more game, forcing a Game 6 back at Prospera Centre on Sunday, March 28. Meanwhile, the Americans, who still hold a 3-2 lead in the series, will be looking for their second win on enemy ice to wrap-up the series. Game time is 5:00 p.m.
Showcasing the type of passion and energy you'd expect from a club one win away from advancing in the post-season, Tri-City dominated the play throughout the first period. The Americans outshot the Bruins 20 to 7 through the first 20 minutes, not allowing a Chilliwack shot on goal through the first 14 minutes of the game. And, with that intensity, the Americans were able to take an early lead.
At the 6:08 mark of the period and with a shot from the right point, Brooks Macek notched a goal for the second straight game while putting the Americans up 1-0. Ten minutes later, however, Alexander Wiklund tied the game at 1 on the Bruins' second shot on goal of the contest. But, just 1:04 after Wiklund's goal, Macek scored again. This time, after Kruise Reddick won a face-off in the Chilliwack zone, Macek was able to knock back a Sergei Drozd rebound to put the Americans up 2-1 headed into the first intermission.
The tide started to shift in the second period, though, as the teams combined for 26 shots on goal with a 14 to 12 edge to the Bruins. However, with 7:22 left in the period and on the power play, Johnny Lazo set-up Reddick perfectly, who then buried his fourth goal of the series. Now up 3-1, the Americans were in the driver's seat as they entered the third period.
But the Bruins, who had hung around all night, made another late-game rush to put them in position to win the game. Just 2:30 into the period and while on the power play, Wiklund notched his second goal of the night with a shot from inside the slot, which beat Drew Owsley top shelf.
However, the turning point in the game came two and a half minutes later, when Chilliwack's Tyler Stahl was called for a double minor for high sticking and put the Americans on a four-minute man-advantage. The power play, which included a brief 5-on-3 opportunity after Jesse Craig was called for boarding, proved ineffective though, as Tri-City could get nothing past Gore despite several opportunities.
With time ticking away, the Bruins pulled Gore for the extra attacker with 1:56 left in regulation. Twenty two seconds later, Howse stuffed home a shot, deflating the home town faithful. Then, despite being outshot 8 to 4 in overtime, Chilliwack sealed the deal at the 7:16 mark. After an innocent shot by Matt Delahey was blocked in front of Owsley, Horak went to put the puck on net. While loose in the crease and Owsley on his stomach, the puck caromed off the skate of an Americans' defender and across the goal line to end the game. Earlier in the overtime period and during a scramble in front of Gore, it appeared that Tri-City had won the game when the puck crossed the line. However, the ruling on the ice was that the whistle blew the play dead before the puck crossed the line, thus continuing the overtime period.
Gore finished with 44 saves on 47 shots, marking the second time in his last three games that he's finished with 40+ saves. Meanwhile, Owsley stopped 30 of the 34 shots he faced in the tough luck loss. The Bruins finished the night 1-for-2 on the power play, while Tri-City was 1-for-8 on the man-advantage.
Applebee's 3 Stars:
1, Alexander Wiklund, Chilliwack
2, Brooks Macek, Tri-City
3, Kruise Reddick, Tri-City
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Western Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2010
- Rockets Force Game 7 with 5-4 Win - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets Defeat âTips 5-4, Force Game Seven - Everett Silvertips
- Spokane Falls Down 3-2 in Series - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Win Third Straight in Spokane to Take a 3-2 Series Lead - Portland Winterhawks
- Bruins Force Game 6 In Another Overtime Thriller - Chilliwack Bruins
- Silvertips Shut Out Rockets 4-0, Lead Series 3-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Bruins Make Come Back Count In 4-3 OT Win Over Americans - Tri-City Americans
- Rockets Coming Home to Face Must Win - Kelowna Rockets
- Series Now Tied At Two - Spokane Chiefs
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