Spokane Spoils New Year's Eve, Defeats Tri-City 5-2
Published on January 1, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
Tri-City Americans Hold off the Spokane Chiefs
(Tri-City Americans, Credit: John Allen)
Kennewick, WA - The Tri-City Americans (15-20-2-0, 32 pts) tried to end 2015 with a win, but the Spokane Chiefs (19-14-3-1, 42 pts) spoiled the party, earning a 5-2 win in front of 5,808 fans at the Toyota Center on New Year's Eve.
Spokane took the early momentum in the first period, outshooting Tri-City 11-3 in the first period. Each team had chances on the power play and some solid scoring chances, but the game was scoreless after the first period.
Early in the second period, Parker Bowles tallied a goal on the power play to take a 1-0 lead. Five minutes into the second, the game was tied as Keanu Yamamoto redirected a shot that found twine. Late in the period, Markson Bechtold was able to score on the power play for a 2-1 Spokane lead. Ethan McIndoe scored just more than a minute later to put the Chiefs up by two goals, and Keanu Yamamoto tallied his second of the night with less than a minute left in the period to make it 4-1 Spokane after two periods.
Dominic Zwerger scored early in the third to increase the lead to 5-1 Chiefs. Tri-City tried to fight back, as Bowles netted his second of the game with a wrist shot low on the glove side, beating Tyson Verhelst to cut the lead to 5-2. But that is as close as the Americans would get, as Spokane cruised to the three-goal victory.
The Chiefs have won three straight games on New Year's Eve.
Tri-City spent 20 minutes in the penalty box and was 1-of-3 on the power play. Spokane recorded 10 penalty minutes and was 2-of-8 with a man advantage.
Nicholas Sanders made 32 saves in the loss while Tyson Verhelst stopped 22 shots in the win.
The Americans will hit the road for five games starting this Saturday, Jan. 2, against the Seattle Thunderbirds (20-13-3-0, 43 pts). Game time is at 7:05 p.m. at ShoWare Center. Seattle won the last meeting, 6-3 at Toyota Center. Listen to the game on NewsTalk 870, or watch the game through WHL Live or at Kimo's, your Americans home away from home.
Jack in the Box Three Stars
1. Keanu Yamamoto, Spokane
2. Parker Bowles, Tri-City
3. Dominic Zwerger, Spokane
Images from this story
 Tri-City Americans Hold off the Spokane Chiefs (John Allen) |
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