WHL Tri-City Americans

Reddick's Power Surge Sends Americans Past 'Hawks 5-2 on Nuclear Night

Published on January 29, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - Firmly among the top-10 on the Americans' all-time scoring list, Tri-City captain Kruise Reddick again showed why his name belongs there.

Reddick recorded his third WHL hat trick, while Drew Owsley stopped 35 shots to pace the Tri-City Americans (30-13-2-1, 63 pts) over the visiting Portland Winterhawks (33-15-0-3, 69 pts) 5-2 in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd of 6,023 fans at the Toyota Center. The Americans, winners of 14 of their last 15 home games, improved to 4-1-1-0 against the division-leading 'Hawks, who will renew their rivalry next weekend. Meanwhile, Portland saw their six-game winning streak come to an end.

Playing in front of the 7th-largest announced crowd in the franchise's history, Reddick made waves during the team's second annual Nuclear Night.

Just 3:06 into the contest, and on the power play, Reddick got the Americans that all-important first goal when he shelved a shot over Mac Carruth's glove. Then, seven and a half minutes later, Jordan Messier intercepted a Portland pass and broke out Reddick. Reddick's second effort found it's way across the goal line, putting Tri-City on top 2-0 headed into the first break.

Midway through the second period, and still up by two, Adam Hughesman made it a three-goal lead. Just minutes after Owsley robbed a Portland player on a breakaway, Matt MacKenzie corralled the loose puck and sent a stretch pass out to Hughesman, who was just breaking into the Portland zone. From there, Hughesman went one-on-one with Carruth, eventually finding daylight over the netminder's glove for his team-leading 32nd goal of the season.

Then, with less than a minute remaining in the second period, and back on the power play, Reddick capped off his hat trick when he nailed home a shot from the point, making it 4-0 after 40 minutes of play.

Around Connor Rankin's 11th goal of the season, Portland sandwiched two power play markers, one each from Brad Ross and Nino Niederreiter, to pull within three twice in the third period. But, it proved to be as close as the 'Hawks could get down the stretch.

Owsley, who made several key saves in the contest, finished with 35 saves on 37 shots to pick up his 27th win of the season and 67th of his career. Meanwhile, Carruth stopped 32 of the 37 shots he faced in the loss. Tri-City finished the night 2-for-7 on the power play, while Portland went 2-for-8 on the man-advantage.

Tri-City will get no time to relish in their win over the division front-runners, as they will now turn their attention to the other team they follow in the standings, the rival Spokane Chiefs (31-12-4-2). Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane. If it's felt like a while since the clubs have met, that's because the two teams have not played a full game against one another since November 20, a span of 10 weeks. It's the first meeting between the clubs since the annual New Year's Eve event in Kennewick was spoiled by ice issues less than three minutes into the second period. The 12-game season series is currently knotted at 2 games apiece, as the two rivals will square off in the first of five straight weekend match-ups. Both teams enter with identical 7-2-1-0 records over their last 10 games. Fans can catch all the action live, via WHL Live, 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.

Note:

Reddick's hat trick on Friday night marked the second hat trick by an Americans' player while playing in the Nuclear-themed night. In last season's inaugural affair, former Tri-City forward Johnny Lazo picked up three goals in the Americans' 6-2 win over Portland.

Applebee's 3 Stars:

1, Kruise Reddick, Tri-City

2, Drew Owsley, Tri-City

3, Tyler Schmidt, Tri-City

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2011


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