Americans complete statement weekend

For those critics that have slumped the Americans to the side in recent weeks: Pay attention now.

The Americans are coming off one of their best weekends of hockey this season earning 4 out of 4 points with two big wins over Kootenay and Portland. The two teams are a combined 38-12 and hold two spots among the CHL's top 10. Easily their best game of the year on Friday night against Kootenay, they looked to at least match that with the game on Saturday. For 40 minutes they did just that, building a 2-0 lead on hard work, clean passing, and selfless play. The guys gave up their bodies to block shots (something they've done well over the last couple of weeks) and were willing to pass to set up chances. Both teams had several chances all throughout the game, posts were dinged and goals were reviewed.

The third was not a good one for the Americans. Honestly they looked tired, and they let it get to their game. Passes did not connect, and Portland took advantage spending most of the period in their offensive zone. They crawled back into it tying the game up at 2 a piece and the Americans decided they would just continue to try and hold them off. They did and to OT we went, just thankful that we'd atleast get a point. Jessica kept me optimistic through the whole thing. My initial thought as the horn sounded to signal the end of regulation was, "As if Portland needed another point..."

We had a couple of chances in OT but came up empty so we went to the shootout. Owsley has been good in shootouts this year, going 5 for 7. You just always wonder when going up against a strong individual team like Portland if you've got enough to stop them. Ty Rattie was stopped on his first attempt, and Hughesman blanked on the other end. Sven Bartschi of Portland couldnt slip under Owsleys pads. That put Brendan Shinnimin on the ice:

Click here for video of the goal (tried to embed but it didnt work)

And that would hold as your game winner folks. Hype that, wins always feel good. especially as you begin to climb back into a division race. The guys have the next couple nights off before hosting another resurgent team in the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday night at Toyota.

Three Stars:
1. T.C - 30 Drew Owsley
2. T.C - 19 Jordan Messier
3. POR - 28 Brendan Leipsic


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 Check this out for last night:

 LOSS to Kelowna 3-2

  LOSS to Medicine Hat 5-2

 LOSS to Kootenay 6-2




 Every team in the US Division lost last night except for Tri City. I like that...A lot...

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US DIVISION STANDINGS

Rank	U.S. Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	STK	P10	PIM
1	Portland Winterhawks	28	21	5	0	2	44	0.786	111	77	0-1-0-1	6-3-0-1	591
2	Tri-City Americans	26	15	9	1	1	32	0.615	95	87	3-0-0-0	4-5-0-1	397
3	Seattle Thunderbirds	24	11	6	3	4	29	0.604	70	68	0-1-0-0	5-2-1-2	424
4	Spokane Chiefs	25	12	9	2	2	28	0.560	94	73	2-0-1-1	5-1-2-2	498
5	Everett Silvertips	26	11	11	1	3	26	0.500	67	76	0-3-0-0	5-5-0-0	394