Third-Period Outburst Leads Americans Over Silvertips

October 22, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Tri-City Americans News Release

The Tri-City Americans (4-5-0-0) scored four unanswered goals in the opening 7:34 of the third period to come from behind and down the Everett Silvertips (7-3-0-0) 6-3 Friday night.

Deagan McMillan opened the scoring when he jumped on a rebound in front of the Everett net. Adam Mechura was denied off the rush by Braden Holt, and McMillan was able to backhand the loose puck through the crowd for his second of the year, 2:02 into the first period.

The Silvertips pulled even near the halfway mark of the first when Olen Zellweger let a shot go from the left point. The puck hit Tomas Suchanek in the shoulder and popped up into the air, landing behind the Americans goaltender and into the net.

Tri-City went to their second penalty kill of the night with 3:40 to go in the opening period, and Ben Hemmerling fired a wrist shot past a screened Suchanek to give the Silvertips a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission. The shots read 16-12 Everett through 20 minutes.

It took until the 7:10 mark of the second period for Tri-City to get their first power play of the game, and it was a double minor for high sticking against Austin Roest to give the Americans four minutes to work with.

Nearly three minutes into the power play, Parker Bell redirected a shot from Ethan Ernst past the blocker of Holt to pull the Americans even on Bell’s second goal of the year.

The game didn’t stay tied for long as Everett regained their lead on a lucky bounce. Caden Zaplitny took a shot that missed the net, but it bounced off the end boards and then off the pad of Suchanek and into the net, restoring the Silvertips lead with 6:38 remaining in the middle frame.

Jordan Gavin nearly brought the Americans back on even terms a few minutes later, but hit the goal post on a partial break.

Everett led 3-2 at the second intermission break with the shots 26-23 in their favour.

The Americans comeback began when Bell scored at the tail end of a power play that carried over from the end of the second period, redirecting a slap pass from Ernst just 1:26 into the third.

A little over two minutes later, on another power play, Jake Sloan banged in a rebound off a point shot from Marc Lajoie to give the Americans the lead on Sloan’s fourth of the year.

Ernst then added a goal of his own to go along with his two assists 2:03 after Sloan’s goal, pushing Tri-City’s lead to 5-3.

The four-goal explosion was capped off by Elouann Lemonnier as he drove to the net and had Sloan’s centring pass bounce off him and in, giving the Americans a 6-3 lead.

That was all Tri-City needed as they cruised for the remaining 12:26, picking up the 6-3 victory.

The Americans are back on home ice tomorrow when they welcome the undefeated Portland Winterhawks (7-0-0-0) for a 6:05 puck drop.

Flex Packs are available now at the Americans office. Save over single ticket prices with our most flexible ticket option. Click here for details.

Shots: 36-34 EVT

Score: 6-3 TC

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board…

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.