Tri-City would survive a late push from Wenatchee and take the Win 3-1 on the road after a game full of penalties. Ryan Grout had his best start of the season, stopping 27 of 28 and earning his first win of the season. Connor Dale for Tri-City has now scored in back-to-back games and has points in three straight.
1st Period
After a sluggish start and shots sitting at 3–3 following the first media timeout, a Jakub Vanecek hooking call gave Wenatchee a chance on the power play — which entered the night tied for second worst in the WHL at just 12.5%.
Tri-City, however, handled the penalty kill with relative ease.
Wenatchee had the most dangerous chance of the period when Alexandre Andre spotted Zane Saab alone on the backdoor. Andre flipped a pass across the crease, but from point-blank range, Saab fired it over the net.
Tri-City would go on to earn three power plays over the final ten minutes of the frame. Wenatchee, who came in boasting an 86% penalty kill, stayed sharp and killed off every single one as Tobias Tvrznik stood tall for the Wild.
That would do it for the opening period — a scoreless one. The story of the first was special teams, as both sides neutralized their opponents’ power plays. Tri-City outshot Wenatchee 8–6 in the frame.
2nd Period
The parade to the penalty box continued early in the second. Just 25 seconds in, Wenatchee took their third obstruction penalty of the night, heading to yet another penalty kill.
Once again, the Wild held firm, denying Tri-City’s power play, which looked far less dangerous than it had on Friday night.
Moments later, the calls piled up again as Sam Elliot took his second tripping penalty of the evening — Wenatchee’s fifth penalty just four minutes into the period.
However, Tri-City’s advantage didn’t last long. Cruz Pavao was whistled for tripping shortly after, nullifying the man advantage. Wenatchee then earned a brief power play of their own, where Elliot had a golden chance on a backdoor one-timer but completely whiffed — a missed opportunity that could have opened the scoring.
At long last, the first goal came following a costly mistake by Caelen Joudrey of Wenatchee at the blue line shortly after the media timeout. Joudrey mishandled the puck, allowing Savin Virk to take off on a clean breakaway. Virk went forehand to backhand and tucked it home to make it 1–0 Tri-City, this lead would stand for the rest of the game.
And when it rains, it pours. Just 13 seconds later, Aden Bouchard scored his first career WHL goal to double the Tri-City lead.
The puck popped up to Bouchard at the point, and he calmly deked around a pair of Wenatchee defenders on his way to the net before sliding it past Tvrznik, who had fallen to the ice.
Tri-City would carry that 2–0 lead into the second intermission.
3rd Period
Early in the third, Wenatchee thought they had closed the gap when Zane Saab appeared to shove in a loose puck at the netfront — but the goal was quickly waved off due to a high stick.
After a stagnant ten minutes of play, Josh Toll sparked life for Wenatchee. From the point, Toll dashed around Abogouche and skated into the right circle before finding Aiden Grossklaus unmarked on the backdoor. Grossklaus one-timed it up and over the diving Grout to finally get the Wild on the board.
But any momentum Wenatchee had vanished moments later when Connor Dale drove into the offensive zone and drew a tripping penalty, giving Tri-City their sixth power play of the night.
With just two minutes remaining, Wenatchee pulled their goalie for a 5-on-4 advantage after Cash Koch and Dawson Seitz were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, or else it would have been 6-on-5.
It was Dale again who sealed the deal, scoring into the empty net for his second goal in as many games. Using his elite speed, he blew past the Wenatchee defense for a tap-in to secure Tri-City’s third straight victory, 3–1, with just 20 seconds left on the clock.
Post Game/What’s Next
The win gives Tri-City three straight victories and moves Tri-City to 5–6, now sitting ninth in the Western Conference — just one point behind Vancouver for the final playoff spot.
Tri-City went an astonishing 0/6 on the power play, but Wenatchee went 0/4 as the penalty kills for both teams were on point tonight.
Connor Dale has now scored in back-to-back games and recorded points in three straight. Despite joining the team only recently, Dale has been absolutely stellar for the club.
Tri-City now returns home for a few days off before hosting the Saskatoon Blades, who currently are tied for second in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday at 7:05 PM — their first matchup against an Eastern Conference opponent this season — as they look to make it four straight wins.
