RECAP: Americans (6) – Chiefs (3)
Kennewick, WA – Jake Sloan recorded his second career hat trick with a five-point effort, leading the Tri-City Americans to a 6-3 win over the Spokane Chiefs at the Toyota Center Friday night.
The Americans got off to a quick start with a power play goal 1:50 after puck drop. After a one timer from the blue line was stopped by Cooper Michaluk, Mason Finley dug the puck loose and worked it to the slot where Sloan fired it into the open net, scoring his 20th goal of the season.
Aided by early power plays Tri-City kept Spokane hemmed in their own zone for long stretches in the opening minutes, opening up a large lead on the shot clock.
Carter MacAdams extended the lead off a face-off win in the Spokane zone. Lukas Dragicevic took a quick snap shot after the face-off win and MacAdams deflected the waist-high puck past the blocker of Michaluk with 5:31 left in the first period.
The Chiefs received their lone power play of the opening frame shortly after the goal, but Kyle Kelsey stood tall in the Americans crease to keep his team ahead 2-0.
Tri-City added a goal in the final minute to take a 3-0 lead into the intermission. Jordan Gavin chased down a loose puck in the Spokane end before turning and hooking it to the slot for Sloan. All alone in the slot, Sloan wasted no time in lifting a shot over Michaluk’s glove with 27 seconds left.
An excellent opening 20 minutes had the Americans outshooting the Chiefs 21-10 and a 3-0 lead.
The second period favored the Chiefs as they scored twice to cut the Americans lead to one. Goals at 1:55 and 11:13 from Rasmus Ekstrom and Chase Bertholet saw Tri-City’s lead down to one heading into the second intermission.
Momentum returned to the Americans side at the beginning of the third period, however. Despite being shorthanded Sloan skated down the right wing into the Spokane zone with Gavin heading to the net. Similar to Sloan’s second goal in the first period, Sloan swung the puck to the slot for Gavin who snuck a shot under the arm of Michaluk for a shorthanded goal just 1:10 into the third.
Parker Bell then restored the Americans three-goal lead four minutes later, taking off through the middle of the ice on a breakaway and beating MIchaluk blocker side for his 22nd goal of the season.
Berkly Catton pulled Spokane back within two while the two teams were playing four-on-four, but Sloan completed his hat trick into an empty net to seal the 6-3 Americans win.
The two teams are set to meet again Saturday night in Spokane.
