From Tri-City Americans
Portland, OR- Luke Lee-Knight had to step up
tonight, and he did in a big way.
Lee-Knight got the start, and made some amazing saves in the third
period to hold off the Portland Winterhawks (23-5-1-0, 47 pts)
and earn a 3-2 win for the Tri-City Americans (18-11-1-1, 38
pts) at the Rose Garden.
Lee-Knight turned in a dazzling performance by making the most
saves by an Americans goalie this season with 44. Lee-Knight stoned all 32 shots
he face in the first two periods, and made some incredible saves in the third,
including stopping a Ty Rattie breakaway and a back door shot in the final
seconds.
Tri-City earned its first win in three meetings against Portland.
Portland dominated the first period with puck possession, but they
didn't get the first goal. Tri-City got on the board first as Connor Rankin
picked up a Portland turnover and fired a shot past Mac Carruth for a 1-0 lead.
Portland had the edge in the shot department 17-6 and had three power play
opportunities, but couldn't score as the Americans carried a 1-0 lead into the
second.
Tensions were high in the second period as the game got physical
between both teams. The Americans had a 5-on-3 in late in the second period and
Rankin scored again by putting a bouncing rebound into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Later in the 5-on-3, Malte Strömwall put the puck into the net to make it 3-0.
Portland dominated the shot advantage 15-5 in the second but still couldn't
score as the Americans held a 3-0 advantage after two periods.
The Americans couldn't hold off the Winterhawks any longer in the
third period, as Ty Rattie fired a shot from the slot into the goal to cut the
lead to two early in the period. Midway through the period, Portland would cut
the lead to one as Nicolas Petan scored to make it 3-2 with 9:05 left in the
game. Lee-Knight made some dazzling saves down the stretch to help hold off the
Winterhawks in the final minutes of the game to earn the victory.
Justin Feser had two assists this game and moved into 11th on the
Americans all-time assist list and is one point shy of tying Stu Barnes for 8th
on the Americans all-time points list.
