Two Third Period Goals Lift Americans Over Broncos 2-1

Swift Current, SK- The Americans finished their Eastern Canada road trip on a high note.

Connor Rankin scored the game winning goal with 3:20 left in the game to give the Tri-City Americans (9-3-1-1, 20 pts) a 2-1 win over the Swift Current Broncos (5-4-3-1, 14 pts) at the Credit Union i-plex.

The first period was relatively quiet, as both teams had one power play and a few good scoring chances. Swift Current outshot Tri-City in the period 8-5, but neither team could score in the first period.

The second period was the same story but different chapter. Tri-City outshot Swift Current 8-6 in the period, but the Broncos had more quality chances during the lone power play in the period. It didn’t matter as we went into the final period with no goals on the board.

In the third period, the Americans finally broke the tie. Midway through the period, Mitch Topping slapped a shot into the back of the net on the power play to make it 1-0. Swift Current would tie the game on a Tri-City turnover in their zone, and Chance Lund picked it up and slipped it under Eric Comrie to tie the game at one.

But the Americans would retake the lead late in the third, as Connor Rankin put home a loose puck in front of the net to make it 2-1 with 3:20 left in the game. Swift Current applied a lot of pressure towards the end of the game, pulling the goalie and getting a few quality chances in front of Comrie but couldn’t score as Tri-City holds on for a 2-1 victory.

The Americans have won two in a row against the Broncos and are now 7-9 on the road at Swift Current.  

Tri-City finishes their Eastern Canada road trip with 11 of 12 possible points, with the lone loss coming in overtime against Saskatoon. The Americans currently sit in first place in the U.S. Division. Rankin scored a goal in five of six games on the road trip.

Comrie made 24 saves in the win, while Eetu Laurikainen made 22 saves in the loss.

Tri-City will make the long trek back to Kennewick before they play their final game of the eight game road trip against the Seattle Thunderbirds (5-4-0-0, 10 pts) in Kent on Oct. 26. Game time is at 7:35 p.m. This will be the first of nine meetings between the two teams, with Tri-City being 9-1 against the Thunderbirds last season. Tri-City currently has a nine game win streak against Seattle and a four game win streak against them in Kent. NewsTalk 870 will have the call beginning at 7:15 p.m. with the pregame show. WHL Live will stream the game starting at 7:30 p.m.  

Jack in the Box Three Stars:
1. Eric Comrie, Tri-City
2. Eetu Laurikainen, Swift Current
3. Chance Lund, Swift Current