Chiefs, Ams have good offensive depth
It seems the Tri-City Americans and Spokane Chiefs always seem to find themselves in similar situations.
The teams that have battled each other for years – the last two seasons for a playoff spot – meet tonight for the first time this season at Kennewick’s Toyota Center.
Both teams just had the last of their star players return and both coaches are eager to start seeing how all the pieces fit together. Each team split its first two games of the Western Hockey League season and tonight will be a good test for the archrivals.
Both teams have shown key similarities in their first two games: offensive depth and inconsistent goaltending.
Spokane has seen 13 players register at least one point and has had eight players score goals. Drayson Bowman (two goals, one assist) and Euro rookie Ondrej Roman (one, two) lead the way with three points. Adam Hobson also has two goals. The team’s plus-minus leaders are Derek Ryan and Matt McCue (+4).
Tonight, the Chiefs will regain the services of right wing Michael Grabner. The National Hockey League’s 14th overall pick this summer returned late Thursday from Vancouver’s camp and is tired but ready to go.
“It was a really good experience meeting all the guys up there and seeing how it works up there,” said Grabner of his first NHL camp. “I learned a lot, got more experience, I thought, and it made me a better player for the future.”
The Chiefs saw the return of defensive anchor Sean Zimmerman from New Jersey’s camp earlier this week. He was able to play with tired legs Tuesday at Vancouver after a long flight.
“It was a lot more comfortable,” Zimmerman said of his second NHL camp experience. “I knew most of the guys this year and was more confident, too – more comfortable with the situation.”
Coach Bill Peters is eager for next week’s practices, when newly acquired Corey Courchene (Lethbridge) should arrive and fit into his role, but expects to learn more about his team tonight.
“I expect it to be a real good game, an up-tempo game,” said Peters. “They’ve had the whole week to get prepared. I feel we’re prepared and we’re starting to get some guys filtering back.”
Chiefs starting goalie Kevin Armstrong (3.51 goals-against, .907 saves percentage) was solid in the first game but struggled in the second.
For the Ams, star goalie Carey Price returned from Montreal’s camp this week but his status for tonight’s game isn’t determined. Backup goalie Chet Pickard (4.80, .867) has had one poor game and one good one.
Price bolsters a Tri-City roster that has added instant offense with deals for Colton Yellow Horn (Lethbridge) and Ladislav Scurko (Seattle). The Americans have six players with goals.