Tri-City Americans Play Waiting Game in WHL Playoffs
The only disadvantage to sweeping your opponent in the playoffs is having to wait for the next. (image courtesy Tri-City Americans-Doug Love)
The Tri-City Americans surprised the WHL by bouncing the Kelowna Rockets with a 4-0 sweep in the 1st Round of the WHL Playoffs. Although Kelowna was also a wild-card team, they were rather highly regarded.
Now the Americans will wait to see who survives the Vancouver-Victoria series, which as of Monday April 2 had Vancouver leading 3-2. They play again Monday night, with a game 7 Tuesday night if necessary.
Some hope these two beat each other up enough to help 'soften' them for a very hot Americans team. In fact, Tri-City was probably the best performing team in the first round. Morgan Geekie scored NINE goals in the four games, and the Americans have been flying around the ice.
Once the outcome is known between Vic and Van (as they are often referred to) the Americans will ready the bus. Because they were a wild-card team, their path through the playoff will always begin on the road.
Meanwhile, Portland and Spokane are slugging it out, the Chiefs trailing 3 games to 2 after beating Portland in overtime Saturday.