Tri-City Americans Weekly Report (1/20-1/26)

Game One – Portland Winterhawks

The Tri-City Americans rolled into Portland to open a three-in-three weekend. The Americans had Carter Savage and Grady Martin return to the lineup from injuries. However, Tri-City fought an uphill battle for most of the game in an extremely high shot contest, falling 6-4.

Diego Buttazzoni got the Veterans Memorial Coliseum rocking with the game’s opening goal on the powerplay at 9:02.

Tyson Jugnauth served a pass up to Buttazzoni from the right circle and Buttazzoni let one fly, going glove side on Matecha.

The Winterhawks kept applying more pressure and were outshooting the Americans 15-2 in the first ten minutes. The Americans survived the brunt of this onslaught thanks to Lukas Matecha and swung the momentum in their favor with a power play goal at 13:02.

Charlie Elick slid the puck over to Max Curran at the left circle who whistled a one-timer on net that was saved by Ondrej Stebetak. The puck took a bounce and was cleaned up by Brandon Whynott on the right side of the net.

Portland regained the lead late in the first period thanks to Joel Plante’s beautiful hand-eye coordination.

Joel Plante batted a puck out of midair that had deflected off his skate. Plante then flicked the puck to Zakreski who was streaking to the net. Zakreski fired a wrister from up close and personal that beat Matecha’s glove side again.

After a period, Portland led 2-1, and in shots with a staggering 21-15 shot count in just 20 minutes.

Both teams had some quality opportunities in the first ten minutes of the second, including Jake Sloan, who got robbed from close quarters by a sprawled-out Stebetak.

It was Cash Koch who broke the scoring deadlock in the second period just a little over halfway through to tie the game.

Jackson Smith cut towards the corner boards off the draw and zipped a pass to Koch in the slot. Koch hammered a one-timer blocker side for his ninth of the year, which puts him just one goal away from tying his season-best ten goals.

With just seconds remaining in the second period, and Tri-City clinging on to a tie game, Portland would get another power-play goal.

Jugnauth at the point launched a wrist shot that dodged traffic and snuck past Matecha’s low blocker side.

Portland carried a 3-2 lead into the third period and were hammering the Tri-City net, leading in shots 37-28.

The Winterhawks carried the momentum from the late second-period goal into the third, scoring just 1:37 in to double their lead.

Alex Weiermair charged into the American end and wired a shot from the top of the right circle that beat Matecha’s low blocker, leaving Matecha in disbelief.

Cruz Pavao got a goal in back-to-back games to bring it within one again just minutes after the Wiermair goal.

Jackson Smith drove the puck deep into the Portland end and the puck trickled past the stick of Max Psenicka on Portland and right to Pavao on the backdoor. Pavao then backhanded the puck five-hole on Stebetak.

Carson Dyck would get the game-winning goal by tipping a shot net-front from Tyson Jugnauth at the point to give Portland a two-goal advantage at 9:54 in the third period.

Tri-City didn’t hear a bell, and yet again, brought the game to a one-goal deficit with just a few minutes to spare.

Max Curran took matters into his own hands and patiently worked his way into the slot on the power play before ripping the puck bardown on fellow Czech native Ondrej Stebetak.

The Winterhawks would shut down any hope the Americans had with an empty net goal just a few minutes later and claim the 6-4 victory.

Game One Notes

Tri-City drop another game, moving to 1-6 in their last seven away games. This now moves the Americans to a 2-2 in season record against the Winterhawks with both their wins coming at home. Tri-City will meet with Portland one more time on the eve of the season finale Friday, March 21st in Portland.

Cruz Pavao as stated got back-to-back goals, but this was the first time since the doubleheader to start the season in Victoria he has achieved this feat.

Tri-City had one of their better nights on the power play all season, going 2/4. However, did not do great on the penalty kill, going 2/4 on that as well.

Both teams in Friday’s contest combined for a whopping total of 91 shots. Portland finished with exactly 50 to the Americans 41.

Faceoffs went the way of the Americans for the first time in nine games as Tri-City won 36 faceoffs to the Winterhawks 34.

Lukas Matecha was brilliant Friday night, making 44 saves on 49. While his Czech counterpart on Portland also had a fabulous night making 37 stops on 41.

Jackson Smith’s had a three-assist night for the third time this season that landed him the third star in Portland. Tyson Jugnauth who had a three-point night as well for Portland picked up the second star. Meanwhile, Kyle Chyzowski was deemed first star with three assists and a +1 rating.

Game Two – Medicine Hat Tigers

The Americans looked to get back on track, facing the potential top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna. The Medicine Hat Tigers are also a top team in the Eastern Conference as they face off for their lone home game of the weekend. The Americans put together a great effort but came up short 3-1.

Medicine Hat got off to a bumper start, outshooting the Americans 12-5 in the first period. However, none of it translated to a goal, and both teams would head into the first intermission tied at zero.

Medicine Hat at the 12:20 marker in the second period broke the deadlock.

Gavin McKenna and Bryce Pickford teamed up for a nice give-and-go play. Pickford, along the far boards, passed to McKenna in the slot. McKenna patiently held the puck and slid it back to Pickford on the backdoor to bang it home.

After just three minutes from the Pickford goal, the Tigers doubled their lead.

Marcus Pachecho of Medicine Hat attempted to slide the puck backdoor on Lukas Matecha. Matecha poked at the puck, and the puck trickled in the blue paint. Matthew Ward then slid in and roofed the puck over the sprawled-out Matecha and in.

Following two periods of action, Medicine Hat led 2-0 with a great last ten minutes in the second period. The Tigers led in shots as well 20-13.

Tri-City would come out of the gates swinging in the third and give the Tigers something to think about, scoring 3:48 in.

Following a great forecheck, and the puck pinned along the boards, Curran freed it and centered the puck to Jake Sloan. Sloan in front of the goal went backhand past Harrison Meneghin and tapped the puck in for his 15th goal of the season.

Medicine Hat wasted no time getting their lone power-play goal of the night, scoring just twenty seconds into it at the six-minute mark of the third period.

Tanner Molendyk gained the American’s zone and dropped the puck off to McKenna in the slot. McKenna closed in on the net and dished the puck to Oasiz Wiesblatt at the left circle. Wiesblatt fired a wrist shot, going bardown on Matecha to regain the two-goal lead.

Game Two Notes

Tri-City have now yet to beat the Medicine Hat Tigers since December 13th, 2017. In that game, the Americans won 6-3 in Medicine Hat, and current Boston Bruin, Morgan Geekie, was the first star with a hat trick and assist.

With an assist, Max Curran is now one game short of tying his career high seven-game point streak.

Jake Gudelj made his return to the Americans lineup following a three-game suspension from a hit in Vancouver.

Final shot tallies from the game were 32-22 in favor of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

The Americans after a promising night on the power play in Portland, went back to their old ways, and finished 0/3 on the power play with Medicine Hat going 1/3.

Tri-City won in faceoffs 31-22.

Jake Sloan with the lone goal for Tri-City Saturday night was granted third star. The potential top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Gavin McKenna, notched two assists which was good enough for the second star. Bryce Pickford who opened scoring in the contest for Medicine Hat got first star.

Game Three – Everett Silvertips

The Americans closed out their week in Everett and the atmosphere easily could been written off as a playoff game. Tri-City fell in overtime 2-1 in a hard-fought game. This is only the third time in the last five years the Americans have left Everett with a point.

Both teams traded blows in the first 20 minutes, including a fight between Terrell Goldsmith and Jaxsin Vaughan at 7:34. But still, both sides remained deadlocked at zero heading into the first intermission.

Everett edged out Tri-City in shots 14-13 after the first frame. Tri-City went 0/2 on the power play in the first and killed off a penalty of their own.

Lukas Kaplan ended the scoring drought 11 minutes into the second period to get Everett on the board first.

Kaplan picked up a loose puck in the Everett end and took it himself into the American zone. Kaplan then cut to his left, into the slot, and fired a wrist shot that went high glove side on Ryan Grout which would go down as his third goal of the season.

With two periods in the tank, Everett held the advantage with a 1-0 lead. The Silvertips also led in shots 27-24.

The Americans outshot the Silvertips 14-10 in the third period and were redeemed with a game tying goal by Captain Jake Sloan at the 15-minute marker of the third period.

Following a long shot from the point off Jackson Smith’s stick, the puck layed dead still in front of the Everett net. Sloan was the first to it and smacked it in net-front after Sanche had lost sight of it.

The two sides kept going at it for the few remaining minutes in regulation, but 60 minutes would not be enough, and overtime was inbound.

Everett sealed the deal halfway through overtime after both teams traded a shot.

Dominik Rymon of Everett swooped in on right circle during a two-on-one opportunity after the Americans zone broke down. Rymon fired a backdoor feed that rolled off Tyler Makenzie’s stick and behind the net. Ryan Grout had dove all the way out of the crease and couldn’t get back after being blocked by teammate Jake Gudelj. Rymon then recovered the puck and put it into an open net securing victory.

Game Three Notes

Tri-City are now 1-15-2 in their last five years in Everett, as stated this was only the third game the Americans have taken at least a point when playing in Everett the past five years.

Tri-City will not have to return to Everett one more time this season, however, Everett will march to Tri-Cities on Friday, March 7th for the last regular season meeting between the two sides.

Ryan Grout had his best start yet, although only his third start, Grout made 37 stops on 39 shots in one of the toughest environments that the Americans play in.

Jessen Sanche for Everett provided another excellent outing, stopping 38 of 39.

This is the first time this season that the Americans have not been outshot by the Silvertips after the entire game, shots finished 39-39 a piece.

Tri-City, after having arguably one of their best performances all season on the power play Friday night, have come down to Earth. The Americans went 0/5 on the power play in Everett on Sunday.

However, the penalty kill has stood strong as usual, and the Americans killed off all four power play opportunities that the Silvertips had. Which was another key point in how Tri-City left Everett with a point.

The third star nomination went to Ryan Grout for his 37 save effort, while Lukas Kaplan who opened scoring for Everett was deemed second star. Goaltender Jesse Sanche came away with first star after 38 saves for Everett.

Injuries

Carter Savage and Grady Martin as stated were removed from the injury report and returned to playing.

Austin Zemlak is still recovering from an upper body injury and remains week-to-week.

Transactions

Forward Clayton Gillmore was reassigned to the Sicamous Eagles of the KIJHL. Gillmore appeared in four games during his short tenure and recorded no points.

Jake Gudelj’s suspension came to a close as he returned to the action Saturday night against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

What’s Next

A good week could see Tri-City close the gap to the Prince George Cougars who sit six points above the Americans, and fifth in the Western Conference.

Tri-City have put together a few good games in a row, and although did not get a win this week, had some of their best team performances in a while which they will hope to carry into next week’s road trip.

Make sure you keep it locked on Area 51 for everything Tri-City Americans.