Tri-City Ruins Spokane’s Teddy Bear Night 2-1

Spokane, WA- Spokane wanted to give the fans a win and an early goal on Teddy Bear Toss night.

Neither of those things happened, as Eric Comrie’s incredible performance in net allowed the Tri-City Americans (19-12-1-2, 41 pts) to defeat the Spokane Chiefs (23-9-1-0, 47 pts) 2-1 in front of 10,052 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

**CHECK THE BOTTOM OF THIS GAME RECAP FOR A COUPON FOR 2 FREE TACOS, COURTESY OF JACK IN THE BOX. LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER, EXPIRES IN 2 DAYS**

Tri-City remains undefeated on the road in December and earned their first win in Spokane this season in three tries. The Americans have won two of six contests against the Chiefs this season.

Comrie played lights out in net, as the 17-year-old made some incredible saves to keep the Americans in the game. Spokane threw 37 shots at Comrie, and he stopped 36 of them in the win. The victory ends Comrie’s six game losing streak. Spokane goaltender Eric Williams made 18 saves in the loss.

Spokane came out and dominated early, putting nine shots on Comrie before Tri-City had their first shot 9:21 into the period. Spokane held the advantage with puck possession and outshot the Americans 15-7, but both goalies kept the puck out of the net as the game went into the second period tied at zero.

The second period was back and forth, as both teams had a few solid chances to score, with Tri-City and Spokane both having good chances on the power play. Spokane outshot Tri-City 8-7, but Comrie made some great saves to keep the puck out of the net and keep the game at zeros going into the third.

Tri-City had some confidence coming into the third, and they finally broke the tie as Beau McCue sent a no-look pass to the front of the net to a wide open Justin Feser, slapping it home for a 1-0 lead early in the third period. Two minutes later, the Americans would increase the lead to two as Malte Strömwall skated into the slot and fired a wrist shot past Williams.

But Spokane would make it a game with 3:14 left as Reid Gow would have a shot deflect off of an Americans player and past Comrie into the net, allowing the Spokane crowd to throw a rain of teddy bears onto the ice at the Coliseum. Spokane pulled Williams with a little under two minutes in regulation, throwing everything they had at Comrie. But this was Eric’s night, as he stopped everything thrown his way to help the Americans earn the win.

Feser scored his 286th point tonight, which ties him for 7th on the Americans all-time points list.

Tri-City will have two days off before their final game before the break as they will take on the Seattle Thunderbirds (16-16-1-1, 34 pts) in the ShoWare Center. Game time is at 7:05 p.m. Tri-City has lost the first two meetings against Seattle this season, including a loss in Kent 3-1 back in October. The Thunderbirds ruined Teddy Bear Toss night for the Americans earlier this month 8-4. NewsTalk 870 will broadcast the game beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show. WHL Live will stream the game online starting at 7:00 p.m.

Jack in the Box Three Stars:
1. Eric Comrie, Tri-City
2. Justin Feser, Tri-City
3. Connor Chartier, Spokane