The Tri-City Americans took care of business Tuesday night, handing Seattle a 5-0 loss at home. Lukas Matecha got his first career WHL Shutout and is proving why he is one of the top WHL goalies in his rookie season. Tonight also saw five different American players find the back of the net.
Tri-City began to hint at their dominant night by scoring halfway through the first period; Andrew Fan got the goal, getting the rebound off Merrek Arpin’s shot, making it 1-0 Tri-City on the third shot of the game by Tri-City.
Shots after one period were 19-9 in favor of Seattle.
Tri-City came into the second period fast and furious, scoring on the powerplay one minute in. Merrek Arpin fed Pasha Bocharov, who was left wide open to an island by himself at the front of the net, making it 2-0 Tri-City.
Max Curran got his second goal of the year with just over five minutes left in the second period. After another terrible turnover by Seattle defenseman Hyde Davidson, Jordan Gavin and Maximillian Curran walked in on a 2-on-0. Gavin made a second pass back to Curran, who went to the top shelf, making it 3-0 Tri-City.
Perhaps some frustration from the Seattle side after a clueless game, Kaleb Hartmann of the Thunderbirds convinced Deagan McMillan to drop the gloves a minute after the Maximillian Curran goal. Hartmann dominated the fight and knocked McMillan over, which seemed to be Seattle’s only victory that night.
After two periods of play, shots were 25-18 in favor of Seattle.
Following a quiet first ten minutes of the third period, Tri-City finished the job and scored two goals in the second half of the third period. The first came by way of Jordan Gavin on the powerplay. Gavin banged home a rebound after Deagan Mcmillan’s shot was blocked, making it 4-0 Tri-City.
The nail in the coffin would come from Jake Sloan with five minutes left in the game. Parker Bell ripped a one-timer from the slot, and it was tipped in from Jake Sloan standing at the side of the net, making it 5-0 Tri-City.
After that beat down, Tri-City moves to 12-7-2 on the season and are back in action Friday Nov. 24 against Eastern Conference foe Saskatoon Blades.
Northwest Sports Desk 