WHL Tri-City Americans

Tri-City Blanks Bruins 6-0; Guarantees 6th Straight Playoff Appearance

Published on February 1, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - With a chance to secure a birth in the 2009 post-season, the Tri-City Americans seized the opportunity to showcase their skills.

Johnny Lazo notched two goals, Tyler Schmidt recorded his second-career three-point night and Chet Pickard picked-up his 11th career shutout, as the Tri-City Americans (36-14-0-3, 75 pts) blanked the visiting Chilliwack Bruins (14-33-2-4, 34 pts) 6-0 in front of 4,819 fans at the Toyota Center. With the win, Tri-City improved to 3-0 against the Bruins this season and 11-1 all-time against their B.C. Division rivals. The win also stretched the Americans' win streak to four games, while maintaining their six-point lead over the Spokane Chiefs in the division standings, who defeated the Kootenay Ice 6-0 in Spokane. Meanwhile, the Bruins have now lost three straight, as they continue to fight their way into a playoff spot.

From the drop of the puck to start the contest, the Americans took control of the game. Tri-City outchanced the Bruins 14 to 4 and had a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.

Just 1:03 into the period, Mitch Fadden got things started for Tri-City. With an extra attacker on for a delayed Chilliwack penalty, Fadden took a pass from Jason Reese and raced up the length of the ice. After Bruins' netminder Lucas Gore made two initial saves, Fadden eventually found daylight between his pads, giving him 21 goals on the season and four in his last four games.

Eight-and-a-half minutes later, Brooks Macek started a well-executed chain of passes that went from Petr Stoklasa to Lazo. With Gore out of position, Lazo registered his first goal of the night.

The Tri-City onslaught continued into the second period, as the Americans continued to play most of the period in the Chilliwack zone. Just 2:28 into the period and on the power play, Procyshen connected for his team-leading 31st goal of the season. Then, 4:20 later, Lazo put Tri-City in control at 4-0, picking-up goal #2.

At the 5:59 mark of the third period, rookie Jordan Messier blasted a shot from just inside the blueline, giving him seven on the season. Then, just past the midway point of the period and on the power play, Schmidt also connected from just inside the blueline, capping the scoring in the contest.

Pickard, who blanked the Portland Winter Hawks the night before, collected all 21 shots he faced, picking-up his fifth shutout of the season. Current Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price holds the Americans record for both shutouts in a season (8, 2004-05) and career shutouts (15). Meanwhile, Gore finished the night with 34 saves in the loss.

The Tri-City power play went 2-for-5 on the night, while Chilliwack was 0-for-3 on the man-advantage.

With the win, the Americans also wrapped-up a long month of January that saw them play 16 games in 31 days. However, in that span, Tri-City finished with an 11-4-0-1 record and collected 23 of a possible 32 points in that span.

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2009


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