WHL Tri-City Americans

Hitmen Stifle Americans Once Again; Take Game 3 4-1

Published on May 5, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - Momentum is a fickle creature and one that can turn on you in a flash. For the Tri-City Americans, that flash was a mere 58 seconds.

With less than three minutes to play in the first period, the Calgary Hitmen (15-5-1, 30 pts) scored twice in less than a minute, quickly turning their 1-goal lead into a 3-0 advantage headed into the first intermission. From there, the Hitmen defense held off a late rally to defeat the Tri-City Americans (12-6-2, 24 pts) 4-1 in front of 4,699 fans at the Toyota Center.

With the win, Calgary stretched their winning streak to seven games and now holds a commanding 3 games to 0 lead in the best-of-seven WHL Championship series. Tri-City will look to take the first step in their comeback challenge in Game 4, set for tomorrow, May 5 at the Toyota Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer outlets, or online at ticketmaster.com. The game will be aired both regionally throughout Western Canada on Shaw TV and locally via My Network starting at 7:00 p.m. Fans can also catch the game on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

Welcoming the chance to play in front of their hometown faithful, the Americans came out full of life in the first period. At one point, Tri-City outshot the Hitmen 10 to 3 and just missed on a handful of chances to get that elusive first goal on Martin Jones. But, whether it was his skate, stick or pads, Jones was up to the task as the Hitmen weathered the early storm.

Then, midway through the first period and while playing 4-on-4, Giffen Nyren picked up a loose puck and broke out Jimmy Bubnick. After crashing the net, Bubnick then found Kris Foucault at the far post, who buried the puck past a diving Alexander Pechurskiy.

Still, Tri-City continued to pressure Calgary late into the period behind two power play chances. But, a late-period penalty on Brett Plouffe put the Americans on the defensive. With 1:21 remaining in the period and on the power play, defenseman Michael Stone fired a shot from the point that appeared to pop in and out of Pechurskiy's glove, then slowly rolled across the goal line. After being reviewed briefly, the goal was upheld and the Hitmen took a 2-0 lead. But, just 58 seconds later, Ian Schultz was able to get the puck into the hands of Cody Sylvester, who then notched his 11th goal of the playoffs and, just like that, had Tri-City starring at a 3-goal deficit headed into the first break.

Down but not out, the Americans continued to chip away at the stingy Calgary defense. Not once but twice, Brendan Shinnimin rang a shot off the post in the second period. Then, Shinnimin had a rebound bounce right to him following a scramble in front of Jones, only to have his shot go over the net while Jones was on the ice.

After another three power plays came up empty to start the third period, including a 5-on-3 for 1:03, Tri-City finally connected on the man-advantage late in the period. With 2:43 remaining in regulation, Calgary's Tyler Shattock was taken off for roughing. Eight seconds later, Kruise Reddick beat Jones backdoor, pulling the Americans to within two.

And, just like that, the previously subdued Toyota Center crowd was roaring and ready to go. Thirty-six seconds later, Misha Fisenko took a holding penalty and put the Americans right back on the power play. In a last-ditch effort to try and tie the game, Tri-City coach Jim Hiller then opted to pull Pechurskiy for the extra attacker. But, with 46 seconds remaining, Schultz gathered up a rebound deep in the Hitmen zone and fired it the length of the ice, finding the back of the vacated Tri-City net at the other end.

Pechurskiy, who started in the place of Drew Owsley, finished with a solid performance in his first playoff start, collecting 31 saves in the loss. Meanwhile, Jones continues to be rock solid in net for the Hitmen, stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced to win his seventh consecutive start. Calgary finished the night 1-for-2 on the power play, while Tri-City was 1-for-7 on the night.

Applebee's 3 Stars:

1, Martin Jones, Calgary

2, Giffen Nyren, Calgary

3, Kruise Reddick, Tri-City

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2010


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