Preview: Vancouver Giants at Tri-City Americans

MELBOURNE, Iowa (Interstat) — Two Western Hockey League teams seeking to halt slides will meet Tuesday when the Vancouver Giants visit the Tri-City Americans at Toyota Center.

The Giants (21-37-0) arrive after a 4-3 road loss to the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday. Vancouver has lost seven of its last 10 games. The Americans (25-32-0) have dropped nine consecutive contests, most recently a 5-2 defeat to the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday.

Recent head-to-head matchups have been close. The teams split two overtime games in Vancouver earlier this season, with Tri-City winning 4-3 on Nov. 22 and Vancouver taking a 4-3 decision on Jan. 9. The Americans won the last meeting in Melbourne, a 5-2 victory on Nov. 7.

A key player for Vancouver is center Misha Volotovskii, who recorded a goal and an assist in the loss to Kamloops. He has points in two of his last five outings. For Tri-City, left wing Connor Dale is a focal point. He had a goal and an assist against Spokane, marking his first multi-point game since Feb. 6.

Both clubs have struggled defensively. Vancouver has allowed four or more goals in five of its last 10 games. Tri-City has been held to two goals or fewer in eight games during its nine-game skid.

The game is the first of a three-game road trip for the Giants, who visit Kelowna and Kamloops later this week. The Americans open a three-game homestand before embarking on a four-game road trip beginning Sunday in Portland.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. local time.