On Wednesday, March 10th, the Tri-City Americans (45-21-1-2, 93 pts, 1st in the Western Conference) will start the final week of the regular season as they face-off against their U.S. Division rival's, the Seattle Thunderbirds (18-38-7-5, 48 pts, 9th in the Western Conference). Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center. It will be Tri-City's first home game in two weeks, as they look to improve on their 26-8 home mark. Meanwhile, the T'birds will be looking to win their first game in Kennewick since Jan. 27, 2008, a span of 11 straight games. Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Toyota Center box office, all Fred Meyer locations or online at ticketmaster.com. The game will also be broadcast live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

Annie Fowler  Tri-City Herald

KENNEWICK - The Tri-City Americans left town Feb. 26 for the first of seven road games. With them, they took a three-point lead in the U.S. Division standings.

Two weeks later, the Americans return to home ice on a three-game losing streak and have fallen into a tie with the Everett Silvertips with 93 points atop the division.

After the Silvertips lost to Portland on Tuesday, both Everett and Tri-City have three games remaining.

Dan Mulhausen  Tri-City Americans

KENNEWICK, WA - Tri-City Americans General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the team has signed prospect Sam Grist to a standard WHL Players Contract.

Grist, a 6'4 200 lb. defenseman from N. Saanich, British Columbia, spent this season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League (Junior A), appearing in 45 games and collecting two goals, six points and 55 penalty minutes. As a rookie, Grist helped lead the Grizzlies to a 34-18-2-6 record and third place in the Coastal Conference. However, the Grizzlies were bounced in a tough first round series 4 games to 2 by the Nanaimo Clippers, with five of the six games being decided by just one goal.