Kennewick, WA. -- The game started a bit slow but finished at a frenetic pace Saturday night, as the Tri-City Americans rallied from a 2-0 deficit, then let a 7-4 third period lead slip away, before rallying to take an 8-7 win in overtime over the Lethbridge Hurricanes, before 4,712 at the Toyota Center.
Lethbridge would take control of the game with a pair of first period goals. Jake Elmer scored from Dylan Cozens and Alex Cotten at 9:33, then Cozens from Taylor Ross and Nick Henry at 19:39, for that 2-0 lead after one.
In the second, the pace picked up quite a bit. Kyle Olson got the Americans on the board and the teddy bears on the ice with his 6th goal of the season, assisted by Aaron Hyman and Krystof Hrabik. The power play goal, coming at 1:39, brought a Toyota Center record 4,168 bears and made it a 2-1 game. Tri-City then forged ahead with a pair of Nolan Yaremko goals. The first, assisted by Isaac Johnson and Olson at 5:39, tied it 2-2. The second, coming on the power play at 7:58 and assisted by Parker AuCoin and Hrabik, gave the Captain 14 goals on the season and put the Americans ahead 3-2. That lead only lasted 65 seconds however, as the 'Canes' Jordy Bellerive scored from Jake Leschyshyn at 9:03, squaring the score at 3-3. Tri-City would regain the lead on Aaron Hyman's 7th of the season and 2nd with the Americans. The power play goal, assisted by Olson and Hrabik at 16:22, put Tri-City back on top 4-3. 18 seconds later, Riley Sawchuk would score his 9th of the season, assisted by Connor Bouchard and Dom Schmiemann at 16:40, would give the Americans a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes and send the fans to Burger Ranch as well, with the home team's 5th goal of the game.
Leschyshyn would bring Lethbridge within one at 5-4, with a power play goal assisted by Elmer and Ross at 6:20 of the third, to make it a 5-4 game. Two goals by the Americans, would seemingly put the game in Tri-City's back pocket. Sasha Mutala's 7th of the season, assisted by Sawchuk and AuCoin at 13:54, for a 6-4 Americans lead. The advantage would grow on AuCoin's 17th goal of the season, assisted by Roman Kalinichenko and Hrabik at 13:54, putting Tri-City on top, 7-4. The Hurricanes though, refused to roll over and would unleash a furious rally. Elmer scored his second of the night, assisted by Cozens at 14:22, to slice the deficit to 7-5. Ross would make it 7-6 with a goal from Cozens and Elmer at 14:59, then Elmer would round out his hat trick with a goal at 17:49, assisted by Ross and Merezhko, tying the game 7-7 and eventually forcing overtime.
In the extra session, the Americans controlled play and got things set up just the way they wanted. Johnson would get the puck in neutral ice, make a nice move against a defender to go one way, then the other, to create space with which to enter the Lethbridge zone on the right wing. He would then fire from about 40 feet away, with his wrister going high to the glove side and in for his 12th of the season. Hrabik drew his 5th assist of the night, with Dom Schmiemann getting the other helper at 1:10 of overtime, giving Tri-City the 8-7 win.
The Hurricanes outshot the Americans 44-41. Beck Warm made 37 saves for Tri-City, Reece Klassen 33 for Lethbridge. The Americans' power play continues it's resurgence, going 3-for-6, while the penalty kill was 1-for-2.
With the win, Tri-City improves to 15-12-1-1 for 32 points, 4th in the U.S. Division and 1st Wild Card in the Western Conference. Lethbridge slips to 15-9-4-2 for 36 points, third in the Central Division.
Coming Up: The Americans play their final two games before the Christmas Break next weekend, hosting the Portland Winterhawks next Saturday the 15th at Toyota Center at 7:05 pm, then play at Portland on Sunday the 16th, beginning at 5:00 pm. Both games can be heard locally on Newstalk 870 KFLD and online at newstalk870.am with Craig West beginning at 6:45 pm Saturday and 4:45 pm Sunday. Lethbridge hosts Kamloops next Saturday and play at Calgary next Sunday.
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