Reddick Tips Americans Past 'Birds in OT
Published on December 5, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
SEATTLE, WA - If you could describe the 2007-08 Tri-City Americans in one word, it could easily be resilient. The Americans, who made a habit of coming from behind to win games early in the season, needed their magic yet again on Tuesday night at Key Arena in Seattle.
Despite a two-goal deficit, the Tri-City Americans (21-6-0-0, 42 pts) scored three unanswered goals to overtake the host Seattle Thunderbirds (11-10-5-1, 28 pts) 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night. Kruise Reddick collected his fourth game-winning goal of the season while snapping the Americans' three-game road losing skid. Meanwhile, the T'birds dropped their second straight contest to Tri-City, but managed to gain ground on idle Everett in the U.S. Division. Seattle sits just two points back of the Silvertips for third place in the division.
Tri-City out shot Seattle 12 to 4 in the first period, but it was the T'birds who led after one period of play. Seattle's Josh Schappert redirected a Jan Eberle shot, past Tri-City goaltender Chet Pickard, for the 1-0 lead. At the 5:18 mark of the second period, Seattle made it 2-0 as Gregg Scott used a slap shot from the right circle to pick up his ninth goal of the season.
After giving Seattle their first power play opportunity of then night, defenseman T.J. Fast returned to the ice, collected a pass from Brett Plouffe and fired a shot at Seattle net minder Riku Helenius. Helenius stopped the initial shot, but Fast slammed home his own rebound to draw Tri-City to within one with less than five minutes remaining in the second period.
In the third period and overtime, Tri-City used their potent special teams to take control of the game. During the second of two 5-on-3 power play opportunities for Tri-City early in the third period, Colton Yellow Horn fired home his team-leading 17th goal of the season to tie the game at two apiece. After spectacular goaltending efforts from both Pickard and Helenius the remainder of the period, the contest headed into overtime.
Just 1:19 into overtime, Seattle's Benn Olson was called for a boarding penalty, setting up yet another Tri-City power play. Eighteen seconds later, Kruise Reddick tipped a Fast shot past Helenius for the game-winning goal. The Americans finished 2-for-6 on the man-advantage, while Seattle was 0-for-2. Helenius stopped 34 of the 37 shots he faced in the tough-luck loss, while Pickard collected 22 saves in his 17th win of the season.
Tomorrow, the Americans will make the short drive north to Everett, where the rival Silvertips await. The 'Tips have lost their last five contests, but defeated Tri-City in their last match-up, a 2-1 victory back on October 27 in Kennewick. Game time is 7:05 PM at Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center. You can catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Budweiser Warm-up Show at 6:50 PM. The game will also be broadcast live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home this season, Kimo's Sports Café and R.F. McDougall's in Richland.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2007
- Blades Weekly - Saskatoon Blades
- Wheat King Prospect Honoured - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Wheaties Move To Top Of Division - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blazers Back In Win Column, 6-4 Over Portland - Kamloops Blazers
- Reddick Tips Americans Past 'Birds in OT - Tri-City Americans
- Bruins Maul Cougars - Chilliwack Bruins
- T-Birds fall in overtime to Americans - Seattle Thunderbirds
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