The Tri-City Americans ended their losing ways Saturday night, beating the rival Spokane Chiefs 6-3 at home in front of a sold-out crowd. Nick Anisimovic had a career night, scoring two goals. Meanwhile, Kyle Kelsey stopped 29 shots to get the win for Tri-City.
No goals were scored in the first period; however, Tri-City dominated play. Spokane was outshot an absurd 20-9 in the first period.
Tri-City came out guns a-blazing in the second frame. Nick Anisimovic got his first goal of the night and fifth goal of the season 26 seconds in. Chiefs goalie Dawson Cowan gifted Anisimovic a goal. Behind the net, Cowan accidentally played the puck to Anisimovic, who threw it into an empty net.
Jake Sloan doubled the American’s lead twenty seconds later to give Tri-City a 2-0 lead just under a minute into the second period. A battle for the puck ensued out net-front, where the puck found Jake Sloan, who banged it home.
Chase Bertholet got Spokane on the board at 13:26 in the second period. Bertholet snuck away for a partial breakaway shorthanded and was slashed by Lukas Dragicevic. Bertholet was given a penalty shot where Bertholet walked in and went five-hole on Kyle Kelsey.
One minute later, Nick Anisimovic got his second goal of the contest. After a Cash Koch tip out net-front, the puck layed right beside the post. Anisimovic stretched out and banged it home, making it 3-1 Tri-City.
After two periods of play, shots were 38-18 in favor of Tri-City.
Will McIsaac gave Tri-City fans something to think about, scoring twenty seconds into the third period. That goal was McIsaac’s fourth goal of the season. Rasmus Ekstrom slid a cross-ice pass to McIsaac, who was alone in the slot, and shelved it over the diving Kyle Kelsey.
Jackson Smith answered right back two minutes after the McIsaac goal. Smith got the Toyota Center booming after firing a sneaky wrister from beyond the left faceoff circle through traffic. Smith’s shot went five-hole and made it 4-2 Tri-City.
Jackson Smith could not be stopped and got his second goal of the game a minute after his first goal on the power play at 3:43. Smith dangled right through Chiefs defender Brayden Crampton and continued streaking towards the net alone. Smith then roofed it over Dawson Cowan for an incredible goal.
Owen Martin was able to drag one more goal back onto the board for Spokane at 5:27. Martin and Ben Bonni walked in on a two-on-one opportunity. Bonni fired a wrister that bounced off Kyle Kelsey’s pad to Martin. Martin smacked the puck home and made it a two-goal deficit.
Parker Bell would net his twenty-first goal of the season with an empty net. Bell was able to fire a puck all the way down from the Tri-City end and snuck it just by the post to seal the deal for Tri-City.
With their win, Tri-City move to 18-27-3 and snap a five-game losing streak. Tri-City will close out their weekend on Sunday evening in Portland with puck drop set for 5 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 