Sunday, January 19, 2014

Comrie Blanks Giants

The Tri-City Americans scored three goals in the third period en route to a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Giants on Sunday night at the Toyota Center. Goaltender Eric Comrie stopped all 43 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season while net minder Ryan Kubic made his WHL debut for the Giants, stopping 10 of 11 shots after coming into the game midway through the first period.

The Giants carried the play to start the hockey game, heavily outshooting the Americans in the early stages of the period, but Beau McCue opened the scoring for Tri-City, beating Payton Lee on a shorthanded two-on-one. Brian Williams extended the lead for the Americans a few minutes later, tallying his 28th of the season on a rebound in front of the Vancouver goal, and Parker Wotherspoon gave Tri-City a 3-0 advantage with a shot from the point that found its way into the net. After the third goal, Lee was pulled from the net and replaced by 16-year-old Ryan Kubic who made his first WHL appearance in the net.

Kubic had to come up big early in the second period as he stopped Rodney Southam on a good chance in close before making a big breakaway save moments later on Lucas Nickles. The Giants generated a number of chances in the Tri-City end and out shot the Americans 16-5 in the second period but still couldn't find the net.

Jessey Astles scored the fourth goal of the night for the Americans at 11:47 of the third period when he was sprung in on net after a stretch pass from Michal Plutnar. Astles got a shot away before falling into Kubic, and the puck ended up crossing the goal line. Jackson Houck had a chance to spoil Comrie's shut-out bid in the late stages when he hammered a hard shot off the cross-bar, but the puck stayed out and the Giants were kept off the scoreboard for the third time this season.

The Giants will wrap-up a three game road trip on Monday in Portland against the Winterhawks. Catch the action on TEAM 1410 and teamradio.ca. The Pre-Game Show starts at 6:30pm, followed by the face-off at 7 o'clock.


3 Stars:
1. Eric Comrie - Tri-City
2. Beau McCue - Tri-City
3. Parker Wotherspoon - Tri-City

No comments:

Post a Comment