Tri-City Herald: Americans in unfamiliar territory after second consecutive loss

By Annie Fowler | Tri-City Herald

The Tri-City Americans are in uncharted waters — and they are just two games into the season.

Saturday, they lost their first home opener in 12 years, and with Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Portland Winterhawks at Toyota Center, they’ve lost back-to-back games to open the season for the first time since the start of the 2005-06 season.

“Somewhat similar to last night,” said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team fell to 0-2-0-0. “The urgency started too late. In the third we played with passion, but we have to play 60 minutes to win hockey games. It’s a matter of contributing. Wherever you are slotted in, you have to make a positive contribution.”

Nic Petan and Chase De Leo each had two goals, and Troy Rutkowski had three assists for Portland (2-1-0-0), playing its third game in as many days.

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