WHL Tri-City Americans

Owsley Shuts Down Everett 3-0

Published on December 19, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


EVERETT, WA - Appearing in his 50th Western Hockey League game, Tri-City goaltender Drew Owsley made it a memorable one.

Owsley stopped all 32 shots he faced to guide the Tri-City Americans (25-9-0-0, 50 pts) past the Everett Silvertips (18-13-2-1, 39 pts) 3-0 in front of 5,507 fans at Comcast Arena. With the win, the Americans have now won three straight and three of their last four road contests. It also gave Owsley his WHL-leading 24th win of the season. Meanwhile, Everett has now dropped seven of their last 10 games and fall to 1-2 in the 8-game regular season series with Tri-City.

After a couple of blowouts in their first two meetings, Friday night's contest remained tight throughout. Everett, looking to set the tone, launched the game's first seven shots on goal, putting Owsley to the test early. But, save after save, the ‘Tips came away empty handed.

At the 9:30 mark of the first period, Tri-City connected on the power play to take the early lead. From down in the corner, Jordan Messier dug the puck out and fed it up to Brooks Macek at the left circle. Macek then sent a cross-ice pass to Justin Feser, who fired a wrist shot past a helpless Kent Simpson. For Feser, it was his 17th goal of the season and sixth over his last seven games.

Nearly six minutes later, Feser factored in again, this time while killing off a Patrick Holland hooking penalty. Feser blocked Ryan Murray's shot from the point then sent in Johnny Lazo on a shorthanded breakaway. Lazo finished the play by collecting his third shorthanded goal in his last two games and put the Americans on top by 2. Lazo has four of Tri-City's eight shorthanded goals this season, all of which have come in the month of December.

Later in the second period, Everett appeared poised to crack the scoreboard when Zack Dailey picked up a Jarrett Toll turnover. Dailey, who is in the midst of the longest point drought of his five-year career, was later robbed by Owsley, keeping the ‘Tips scoreless.

Still down by two headed into the final period of play, Everett tried to capitalize on two power play opportunities to get on the board. But, the Americans' penalty kill was up to the task, including shutting down the ‘Tips with less than five minutes remaining in the period.

With two minutes remaining in regulation and after Tri-City called timeout, Everett pulled Simpson in a last-ditch effort to generate some offense. But, with less than a minute remaining, Kruise Reddick corralled a loose puck and found Lazo heading up ice. Then, just as he cleared the center ice red line, Lazo buried the empty net goal for his second consecutive multi-goal game and fourth in the month of December.

Simpson, who earned third star honors on the night, notched 37 saves on 39 shots faced in the loss. Tri-City finished the night 1-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

The Americans will now get back on the bus and head south, where they will prepare to face-off against the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, December 19. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at the Rose Garden. Tri-City enters with a six-game winning streak vs. the ‘Hawks, including a perfect 4-0 record this season against their division rival. However, three of those four wins this year have come in the friendly confines of the Toyota Center. Meanwhile, after falling to Swift Current on Friday, Portland has now dropped two of their last three games at home and are 3-2-0-1 in their last six games. Fans can catch all the action live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, Kimo's Sports Café in Richland. The game will also be broadcast live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

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