WHL Tri-City Americans

Oil Kings Spoil Pink Ice Night; Defeat Tri-City 3-2

Published on February 14, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - Even with so much goodwill going on around them, the Tri-City Americans still could not make Friday the 13th a lucky day.

Brett Breitkreuz had a two-point night and goaltender Cam Lanigan stopped 25 shots as the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings (25-30-2-4, 56 pts) defeated the Tri-City Americans (38-16-0-3, 79 pts) 3-2 in front of 5,338 fans at Toyota Center. The mostly pink-clad fans helped celebrate Tri-City's fourth annual Fred Meyer Breast Cancer Awareness Night, raising over $18,000 for the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, but saw the Americans lose just their fifth home game of the season. Meanwhile, the Oil Kings improved to 2-2 in their last four games, while atoning for last season's loss to Tri-City in Edmonton. The all-time series is now tied at 1-apeice.

Entering tonight's contest, Tri-City was 3-0 on their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night game. They got things off to a good start, as they were able to take the first lead in the game. With 6:44 remaining in the first period, Tyler Schmidt let a slap shot go from just inside the blue line, beating Lanigan for the 1-0 lead.

But, four minutes later, Breitkreuz knotted the game at 1 with his 18th goal of the season.

At the 12:21 mark of the second period and on the power play, Tri-City retook the lead after Kruise Reddick found daylight behind Lanigan during a scramble in front of the net. It was Reddick's 15th goal of the season and his third in his last six games.

Still leading 2-1 going into the final period of play, bad luck finally struck Tri-City.

After failing to connect on several passes and having a Mitch Fadden shot ring off the post, Edmonton tied the game midway through the period. During a scramble in front of the net, Robin Soudek got the puck past Chet Pickard, tying the game at 2 apiece. Then, just over four minutes later during another scramble in front of Pickard, Craig McCallum netted the eventual game-winner.

Over the final 1:20, head coach Don Nachbaur pulled Pickard for the extra attacker, but Tri-City could not get the game-tying tally. In the end, Pickard stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced in the loss. The Americans finished the night 1-for-4 on the power play and was a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Seeing their division lead shrink to four points after the Spokane Chiefs knocked off the Winter Hawks in Portland, the Americans will get on the bus tomorrow, Saturday, February 14 and head west to face-off against their division rivals, the Everett Silvertips. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Comcast Arena. Tri-City holds the series lead against the 'Tips this season, 5-to-2, but both losses have come in Everett. In their last five trips to Comcast Arena, the Americans are 2-1-0-2. Tri-City is 7-13-1-3 w/ 3 ties all-time at Comcast Arena. The game will be broadcast live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, Kimo's Sports Café and R.F. McDougall's in Richland, starting at 7:05 p.m. Fans can also catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

U.S. Cellular Three Stars:

1, Brett Breitkreuz, Edmonton

2, Tyler Schmidt, Tri-City

3, Cam Lanigan, Edmonton

Taylor Procyshen's 'Go Pro' MDA Challenge Update:

After 57 games, Tri-City has recorded 209 goals = $836

If you would like to join Taylor's MDA Challenge, contact the Americans office at 509.736.0606 and ask how you can contribute.

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2009


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