KENNEWICK — The Tri-City Americans entered Friday’s game with the Everett Silvertips as the hottest team in the WHL’s U.S. Division.
The Americans continued that trend Friday as they knocked off the division-leading Silvertips 2-0 before 4,721 fans at the Toyota Center
The Americans (28-26-2-1, 59 points), clad in pink and gray jerseys in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Night instead of their usual red, white and blue have now won three in a row and five of their last six as they continue a late-season surge in pursuit of a playoff spot.
Tri-City has now beaten Everett (33-20-2-2, 70 points) three times in five games this season.
The Tips, who face second-place Seattle in a pivotal game Saturday night at Xfinity Arena, were shut out for the second time in their last three games and have now lost four of their last five. Everett will look to quell that streak Saturday against the Thunderbirds and Sunday when the Spokane Chiefs visit.
Americans goaltender Evan Sarthou, a native of Black Diamond, Washington, stopped all 33 shots sent his way including 15 in the final period for his second shutout of the season.
The Tips outshot the Americans 33-17 for the game including a 15-1 margin in the third period, but Sarthou stymied Everett time and time again. Sarthou’s most impressive save came at 4:35 in the third when he stoned Everett’s Carson Stadnyk in a 2-on-1 rush to keep the shutout intact.
The Americans scored the only goal they needed with Everett on the power play late in the opening period. Tips goalie Carter Hart got caught too far out of the crease and Tri-City’s Mackenze Stewart converted a turnover into the open net at 17:22 for the short-handed tally.
Tri-City then utilized its first power play just 18 seconds into the second period as Beau McCue took the puck toward the net from the right wing and found Parker Bowles at the left post. Bowles beat Hart for the 2-0 advantage.
The Americans finished 1-for-2 on the power play while holding the Silvertips to an 0-for-4 showing.
Hart, who leads the WHL with 31 wins, is looking for his first victory since a 4-1 Silvertips victory at Seattle on Feb. 6. Hart will likely get another shot at the T-Birds Saturday night.
Americans 2, Silvertips 0
Everett000—0
Tri-City110—2
1st Period—1, Tri-City, Stewart 3 17:22 (SH). Penalties—Gerth Evt (major-fighting), 1:49; Rayman T.c (major-fighting), 1:49; Carlo T.c (cross checking), 7:27; Geekie T.c (tripping), 16:06; Khomenko Evt (tripping), 18:39.
2nd Period—2, Tri-City, Bowles 33 (McCue), 0:18 (PP). Penalties—Davis Evt (major-fighting), 3:49; AuCoin T.c (major-fighting), 3:49; Sandhu T.c (tripping), 4:55; served by Gerth Evt (too many men), 14:15; Carlo T.c (cross checking), 16:24.
3rd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Bajkov Evt (cross checking), 10:41; Rayman T.c (slashing), 10:41.
Shots on Goal—Everett 9-9-15-33. Tri-City 7-9-1-17.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0 / 4; Tri-City 1 / 2.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 31-19-1-2 (17 shots-15 saves). Tri-City, Sarthou 24-23-2-0 (33 shots-33 saves).
A—4,721
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