Game Day Preview: Rockets @ Americans
Tuesday March 25, 2014
Kelowna Rockets (2-0) at Tri-City Americans (0-2)
Toyota Center, Kennewick, WA 7:05 p.m.
Local Radio Broadcast: NewsTalk 870 AM, 6:45 p.m.
Watch: WHL Live
Previous Game
Kelowna: 03/23/14 vs. Tri-City (3-1, Win)
Tri-City: 03/23/14 at Kelowna (1-3, Loss)
2013/14 Playoff Point Leaders
Kelowna: Rourke Chartier 2G-1A-3PT, Myles Bell 2G-0A-2PT, Three Others 0G-2A-2PT
Tri-City: Phil Tot 1G-1A-2PT, Brian Williams 1G-0A-1PT, Three Others 0G-1A-1PT
Game Overview
After two hard fought losses in Kelowna, the Tri-City Americans return home to the friendly confines of the Toyota Center, looking to cut into the Rockets 2-0 series lead. The Americans are winless in six games against the Rockets this season, but lead the all-time series with a record of 63-58-2-1. The Americans earned a point the last time these two teams took the ice in Kennewick, taking the CHL’s top ranked team all the way to a shootout.
Players to Watch
Kelowna:
Jordon Cooke- If the Americans are going to cut into the 2-0 deficit, it will have to solve Jordon Cooke who has allowed just one goal in each of the first two games. The Alberta native posted 2.28 goals against average during the regular season on his way to being named a first-team Western Conference All-Star.
Rourke Chartier- Through the first two games of the series, Chartier leads the Rockets with three points and is tied for the team lead with two goals. The three points are the first of the 17-year-olds WHL playoff career.
Myles Bell- Bell has scored big goals for the Rockets in each of the first two games, including the game winning goal in game one and the game tying goal in game two. The Calgary native led the team with 42 goals during the regular season and shutting him down will be one of the keys to an Americans victory tonight.
Tri-City:
Eric Comrie- Eric Comrie has turned in two stellar efforts in goal during the post season, with 32 and 44 save outings respectively. The 18-year-old net minder finished the regular season with the league’s second best save percentage at 0.924 and so far has improved on that in the post season with a 0.938.
Phil Tot- Tot recorded his first career playoff goal during game two against the Rockets, currently leading the team with two points on the post season. The 20-year-old missed several weeks with a lower body injury towards the end of the season, but since his return has added an extra scoring threat to the Americans lineup.
Beau McCue- One player the Americans would love to get going tonight is Beau McCue, who thus far has been held pointless during the playoffs. The Colorado Springs native finished the season second on the team with 20 goals including one against the Rockets on February 26.
Game Notes
Game #2 Recap: The Americans gave the Kelowna Rockets another tough test on Sunday evening, opening the scoring on the power play midway through the first period with Phil Tot’s first career playoff goal, only to see the Rockets score three unanswered goals to defeat the Americans 3-1. Eric Comrie turned aside 44 of the Rockets 47 shots, earning second star for the game.
Top Series Performers: In his first career playoff series, Phil Tot currently leads the team with two points, opening the scoring in game two while collecting an assist in the Americans’ lone goal during game one. Brian Williams has one goal during the series, while Parker Bowles, Mitch Topping and Parker Wotherspoon have all collected a single assist.
Against B.C. Division: The Americans will be looking to build on its record against the B.C. Division where it went 8-10-1-1 during the regular season. In previous meetings against its cross division Western Conference opponents, Tri-City has victories against Victoria and Prince George as well as multiple wins against both Vancouver and Kamloops.
Eric Comrie Breaks Single Season Saves Record: With 46 saves against the Portland Winterhawks on March 11, Eric Comrie set the Tri-City Americans all-time mark for saves in a season. The previous record was set by Aaron Baker during the 97-98 season where he made 1,825 saves. Comrie finished the season with 1,849 saves in 60 starts, an average of 30.82 saves per game.
Topping and Comrie Receive WHL Honors: This past week, two Americans’ players were honored with 2013-14 WHL accolades. Eric Comrie was named a second team Western Conference All Star and captain Mitch Topping was named the Western Conference Humanitarian of the year. It was the second time in as many years that Topping had earned that honor and he will be a finalist for the 2014 Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy.
Comrie Saves for Hunger: Americans goaltender Eric Comrie has teamed up with 2nd Harvest Tri-Cities to re-launch “Comrie Saves Hunger” for its second season. Comrie will donate 50 cents out of his own pocket for every save that he makes on home ice. The Tri-City Americans will also match Comrie’s donation to 2nd Harvest dollar for dollar. Comrie finished the regular season with 951 total saves at the Toyota Center coming out to a grand total of $475.50 in his personal donation.
Next Game
Tri-City: vs. Kelowna 03/26/14
Kelowna: at Tri-City 03/26/14
