SPOKANE, WA - The Cardiac Kids have done it again.
With their backs to the wall, Kruise Reddick capitalized on the power play to give Tri-City a 2-1 overtime victory over the Spokane Chiefs in front of 8,105 fans at Veterans Memorial Arena. In the process, Tri-City forced a deciding Game 7 tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Toyota Center. With the win, the Americans improved to 4-2 in overtime this post-season and improve to 6-3 overall at the Arena in Spokane this season.
ADVERTISEMENT As has been the case all series long, strong goaltending from both teams defined the contest. However, at 4:09 of the first period, Judd Blackwater recorded his third goal in the last two games, putting the Chiefs ahead 1-0. After faking a shot from the left circle, Mitch Wahl passed the puck to Blackwater, who looked to the far post, but shot the puck near side. Blackwater’s shot found just enough space between the post and Chet Pickard’s skate to give Spokane the lead.
But, Tri-City came out and dominated the second period, although it did not reflect in shots taken. After two shots rang off the post earlier in the period, Petr Stoklasa netted his first goal of the post-season with less than 90 seconds remaining in the period. After Spokane failed to clear the zone, Reddick collected the puck and fed it to Stoklasa, who beat Dustin Tokarski top shelf on the glove side, tying the game at 1.
Just over a minute prior, Spokane missed a chance to take a 2-0 lead, as a goal was waived off by referee Derek Zalaski. The puck crossed the goal line, but it was after Zalaski had whistled the play dead; much to the dismay of Chiefs fans.
Spokane, however, came out recharged in the third period, taking it to the Americans for nearly all 60 minutes. It started with a Spokane power play with just over 17 minutes to play in regulation, as the Chiefs outshot Tri-City 14 to 1, but came away with nothing on the scoreboard.
Despite the tilted ice at the end of regulation, the Americans were able to take charge in the overtime and, just six seconds after Tokarski made a brilliant save on Colton Yellow Horn to keep the game tied, Reddick ended it with a wrist shot at the near post. Pickard finished the night with 35 saves, while Tokarski stopped 19 of the 21 shots he saw. Tri-City was 1-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
Just as the regular season ended, so do the playoffs for the Chiefs and Americans. With one game left to decide who finishes on top, the two rivals will face-off tomorrow night for the right to claim the Western Conference crown and advance to the Western Hockey League Finals. Spokane is looking to advance to the Finals for the first time since 2000, while Tri-City attempts to make their first-ever appearance in the fourth round.