From Tri-City Americans
Kennewick, WA- Only one team can be in second place in
the U.S. Division.
That title belongs to the Tri-City Americans (16-7-1-1, 34
pts), as Malte Strömwall stabbed the Spokane Chiefs (16-7-1-0, 33 pts)
in the heart by scoring 43 seconds into overtime to lift them to a 5-4 win
in front of 5,184 at the Toyota Center.
The win snaps a four game Spokane winning streak dating back
to last season. Spokane had won three straight in Kennewick until tonight. The
Americans have won four straight and snapped Spokane's two game winning streak.
The Americans outshot the Chiefs early in the first period,
but it was Spokane that scored first. Cole Wedman fired a shot through traffic
into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead. But the Americans would tie the
game midway through the first period. Zachary Yuen picked up a loose puck next
to a pile up in front of the net, which created a screen and allowed Yuen to
shoot it into the goal. Tri-City had more chances and outshot Spokane 17-9 in
the period, but the first ended tied at one.
Spokane came out shooting in the second period, and had two
straight power plays early but couldn't capitalize on the opportunities. The
Chiefs would finally break the tie midway through the second, as Blake Gal would
score from the slot to take the lead. Spokane would make it 3-1 as Jackson
Playfair stepped out of the penalty box to set up Chiefs Captain Brenden Kichton
with a goal. The Americans had a great chance on a Beau McCue breakaway, but he
was denied by Eric Williams. Tri-City would get within one before the end of the
period, as Mitch Topping shot a laser through traffic into the net for the goal.
Ams held the shot lead 16-8 in the second, but went into the third down by one.
Tri-City would get the tying goal 8:44 into the third as
McCue would avenge his miss on a breakaway by slipping the puck into the net.
Both teams had the chance to take the lead, as McCue had a chance with a loose
puck on the doorstep and Spokane had a rebound chance in front of the Americans
net that the Chiefs almost put home. Spokane would retake the lead as Collin
Valcourt would put home a rebound with 3:34 left in the game. The Ams pushed in
the final minutes of the game and it paid off as Marcus Messier put home a
rebound with 16 seconds left to tie the game and send the game to overtime.
In overtime, the Chiefs almost scored early in the overtime
on a shot from the point. And the resulting skate down the ice towards the
Chiefs goal would end the game, as Strömwall danced by a Spokane defender and
shot the puck past Williams, and the Americans players flooded the ice to
celebrate.
Tri-City finishes the eight game home stand at 7-1, with the
lone loss coming against Everett on November 9.
With two assists tonight, Feser achieved 150 for his career
and is tied with Bill Lindsay for 11th on the Americans all-time assists list.
The two points also bring him within one point of tying Dylan Stanley for 9th on
the Americans all-time points list.
