Ice Rally Past Americans 5-4 in Red Lion Hotels Tournament Opener

KENNEWICK, WA – Sam Reinhart scored twice and Luke Philp had a two-point night including the game-winning goal, as the visiting Kootenay Ice (1-0-0-0) rallied past the host Tri-City Americans (2-1-0-0) 5-4 in Game 1 of the Red Lion Hotels Pre-Season Tournament at the Toyota Center.

The home team got off to a fast start on Thursday night, as Mackenzie Royer scored just 29 seconds into the contest.

After Kootenay’s Kurt Johnas scored to make it 1-apiece, Drydn Dow responded less than 30 seconds later, to put the Americans back on top.  Then, with eight minutes remaining in the period and on the power play, Mason Wilgosh capped the first period scoring with his first goal of the pre-season.  Tri-City held a 15 to 5 shot advantage after the first 20 minutes in addition to a 3-1 lead.

However, the game seemed to settle in during the second period, with both teams combining for just 15 total shots in the period.  The Ice, though, managed to pull even in the first four minutes, scoring twice in a 1:43 span, to tie the game at 3.

Just 1:59 into the third, Tri-City retook the lead, this time off the stick of Tyson Dallman.  But, 2:30 later and on the power play, Reinhart registered his second goal of the game, tying the contest at 4.  The game seemed destined for overtime, until a mad scramble in front of Tri-City goalie, Eric Comrie, led to Philp’s winner with 1:48 left in regulation.  Comrie would get pulled for the final half-minute, but Tri-City never got a shot away.

Comrie, who played the entire contest, stopped 25 of 30 while suffering his first loss of the pre-season.  Meanwhile, Brett Teskey started in goal for Kootenay, playing 30:31 and picking up 18 saves on 21 shots.  Teskey was later replaced by Mackenzie Skapski, who finished with 7 saves.  Tri-City finished the night 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Ice were 2-of-4 on the man-advantage.

Both teams will be in action in Day 2 of the Red Lion Hotels Pre-Season Tournament tomorrow, as the Ice take on the Everett Silvertips at 11:00 AM at the Toyota Center.  After Seattle and Spokane battle at 3:00 PM, the Americans return to the ice for a re-match with the Portland Winterhawks (0-1-0-1) at 7:05 PM.  Tickets for all tournament games are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer outlets, or online at ticketmaster.com.

Kootenay Ice 5, Tri-City Americans 4

First Period
1 – T.C. Mackenzie Royer 1 (Marcus Messier, Drydn Dow), 0:29
2 – KTN Kurt Johnas 1 (Brendan Hurley), 4:54
3 – T.C. Dow 1 (Max Moline), 5:22
4 – T.C. Mason Wilgosh 1 (Michal Plutnar, Riley Guenther), PP, 11:57

Second Period
5 – KTN Jaedon Descheneau 1 (Luke Philp, Jeff Hubic), PP, 2:25
6 – KTN Sam Reinhart 1 (Jared Iron, Hurley), 4:08

Third Period
7 – T.C. Tyson Dallman 1 (Brennen Bosovich, Guenther), 1:59
8 – KTN Reinhart 2 (Dylan McKinlay, John Neibrandt), PP, 4:29
9 – KTN Philp 1 (Spencer Wand, Erik Benoit), 18:12

Power Play
KTN: 2-4
T.C.: 1-6

Shots on Goal
KTN: 5-7-18 – 30
T.C.: 15-8-6 – 29

Goalies
KTN: Brett Teskey, 30:31, 18/21
        Mackenzie Skapski, 29:29, 7/8

T.C.: Eric Comrie, 59:38, 25/30

Attendance: 2,900