Game One – Portland Winterhawks

In the last meeting between the two U.S. division foes this season, the Tri-City Americans would snatch just their second regulation win in Portland in the last five years with a final score of 4-2. Ryan Grout was the biggest reason the Americans pulled out the victory in Portland, making 43 saves, including his second game in a row of making at least 40 saves. This win kept the Americans alive in the race for the six-seed and a chance against Spokane in the first round.

Portland outshot the Americans 17-7 in the first as Portland seemed to be toying with the Tri-City defense. But it was Tri-City who would kick off scoring, scoring with just a few minutes remaining in the first. On the right wing, Max Curran put it off the wall to Brandon Whynott. Whynott twisted a backhander to the slot where it was blocked and deflected to defenseman Jackson Smith, the best prospect out of the WHL in the upcoming NHL Draft. Smith would wire a wrist shot that flew by the glove of rookie import Ondrej Stebetak and in.

Tri-City wasted no time in the second period doubling up their lead over a minute in with overager Carter MacAdams getting a lucky bounce, adding to his career-high eighteenth goal of the season for the lone goal of the second period. MacAdams pickpocketed Tyson Jugnauth of Portland along the right-wing boards.

MacAdams then worked his way into the slot, stopped, and let a shot go that went high over the net. The puck then bounced back, hitting a Winterhawks player, and going in. Tri-City got a shot on the power play at the midway point but did nothing with it. Both goalies also made some great saves, and it would be a 2-0 lead for the Americans heading into the last period.

In the third, it was Portland’s best effort as the Winterhawks tried to muster a comeback in the final home game of the season, holding the Americans to just 5 shots on net in the last period. The Americans made the most of what they got, scoring on two of the five shots, including the first goal of the third period four minutes in on the power play. Smith at the point went right to Virk at the top of the right circle. Savin Virk would then go bardown on Stebetak and make it 3-0. Portland would begin to mount the comeback at the halfway point of the third period.

Charlie Elick got caught up with a Winterhawks player at the blue line, leading to a broken two-on-one. Tyson Jugnauth of Portland along the right-wing boards was being pressured but mustered away a pass to the unmarked Diego Buttazzoni on the backdoor. Buttazzoni would wrist it through Grout’s five-hole and turn the tide of the game.

As the Buttazzoni goal was being announced, Portland would cut the Tri-City lead to just one, sending the Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum into liftoff. Josh Zakreski gained the American’s zone along the left wing. Zakreski then quickly sauced a pass to Ryan Miller busting towards the net. Miller would then quickly get a shot off just inside the left circle that found a way over Ryan Grout’s glove and in.

The Americans would however hold off Portland for the remainder of the game and Czech Import Max Curran would slam duck one into an empty Portland net with just thirty seconds to go, securing the 4-2 Victory.

Shots were heavily stacked in Portland’s favor 45-25. Tri-City would go 1/3 on the powerplay while holding Portland’s powerplay, which is 25% overall on the year to 0/2.

On the year, Tri-City went 3-3, splitting the season series with Portland. Portland themselves hold the five-seed and cannot move anywhere in the standings.

Game Two – Spokane Chiefs

With hopes of the six-seed still alive to play the Chiefs in round one and Tri-City just one point behind the current sixth-place Vancouver Giants, needing some help from Kamloops, the Americans made their way back to the Toyota Center in search of a big victory on Saturday night in the final regular season meeting between the two rivals. However, even after a late surge, fueled by Jackson Smith, the Americans fell 4-3.

In the first period, nobody could find the back of the net, with only 14 shots combined by both teams in the first period. Spokane led in shots 9-5, and Tri-City had an early powerplay after a Brayden Crampton interference penalty, but nothing happened. Jaxen Adam took offense to Cam Parr after Parr speared Jackson Smith. The two dropped the gloves at Center Ice and both landed some blows before Parr would drag down Adam.

In the early stages of the second, Spokane would break the goose egg and open scoring. Andrew Cristall gained the Americans line and surveyed his options before passing to Rasmus Ekstrom in the right circle. Ekstrom then shot one that tipped off of Americans defenseman Jackson Smiths stick and in. Spokane would then get a shot on the powerplay eleven minutes in, but not capitalize, and the Chiefs would go into the second intermission with a 1-0 lead. Americans fans finally got a chance to get loud as just seconds into the third period, Brandon Whynott would strike on a golden opportunity, tying up the game.

Jake Sloan sidestepped his way past a Chiefs player and gained the Chiefs zone with a two-on-one. Sloan then slid it over to Whynott who fired a wrister over the diving Carter Esler and in. Spokane would gain the lead back just minutes later. Sam Oremba was tied up as he entered the American’s end, and it was Andrew Cristall who picked up the puck. Cristall carried the puck down the slot before making a pass to Rasmus Ekstrom at the left circle. Ekstrom wound up and blasted a one-timer past Matecha’s blocker for his second goal of the game.

Spokane would double their lead then at 7:44 in the final period. Rasmus Ekstrom cleanly won the draw to Will McIsaac. McIsaac at the right point let a wrist shot go that was kicked paddled away by Matecha right to Sam Oremba on the backdoor. Oremba made no mistake putting it past an outstretched Matecha, making it 3-1.

The struggling Tri-City power play showed up in the third period as Jackson Smith would make it just a one-goal lead for the Chiefs again at 11:44 following a Saige Weinstein penalty for interference after his stick broke and he threw it at an Americans player with the puck. Jake Sloan at the goal line would fire one to Jackson Smith at the point. Smith held onto it for a moment before firing a wrister glove side, past Carter Esler and in. Spokane would reclaim their two-goal advantage however just two minutes later.

At the right point once again, Brayden Crampton snapped a shot towards the net that was tipped by rookie sensation Mathis Preston and past Matecha’s blocker for his 23rd goal of the season. On the powerplay with a minute to go, Jackson Smith added his second goal of the night and tenth of the year to make it a one-goal game. Max Curran at the right circle served up a pass to Smith at the point. Smith debated before firing a wrister through traffic that once again beat Esler glove slide.

The dead tired line which just scored was left out by Americans Head Coach Stu Barnes with just under a minute to go and struggled to gain the Chiefs zone as the Chiefs brought out a fresh line, and the Americans would end up running out of time and losing 4-3. With that, Tri-City lose the season series to Spokane, finishing 4-6 on the season, 3-2 at home, and 1-4 on the road. Shots went the way of Spokane, 40-25. The Americans held the dangerous Chiefs power play to 0/2, while the Americans themselves had another good night on the powerplay, going 2/4 with as stated much thanks to Jackson Smith.

All three stars were the overagers for the Americans which were forwards Carter MacAdams, Jake Sloan, and Brandon Whynott.

With the Kamloops Blazers losing on Saturday night as well to the Vancouver Giants, the Americans are now officially in line to play the Victoria Royals in the first round.

Game Three – Seattle Thunderbirds

Tri-City still had one game to go as it was a continuation of the suspended game a few weeks ago on March 11th in which the incident involving Terrell Goldsmith occurred. The game took place Sunday Afternoon and even though there was nothing on the line, don’t tell the players that. The game would continue where it left off, just a minute into the second period with Seattle leading 2-0. Seattle was able to come out with the victory after a late powerplay goal and win 3-2 to close out the regular season.

Defenseman Aden Bouchard of Tri-City, the third overall pick in the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, made his long-awaited WHL debut. Along with that a few other affiliate players were suited up for some action. Those players are Mason Mykichuk, and Crew Martinson. It was a relatively uneventful start in the second as the Americans tried to get accustomed to the new players in the lineup.

Late in the second though, Tri-City were able to get on the board thanks to the red-hot Jackson Smith and make it a one-goal deficit heading into the third period. Smith received a pass from Cruz Pavao in the high slot and made his way toward the right circle, dragging the puck, and firing a shot under Grayson Malinoski’s glove for his ninth goal in eleven games. After two periods, Seattle led 2-1, and shots were all Seattle as it was 27-14.

In the third, it was the Americans best effort, as the Americans outshot Seattle 14-4, and dominated play. The Americans were able to tie the game up early in the third on the power play as Savin Virk added his 22nd goal of the season. Charlie Elick on the right wing slid a pass across the ice to Savin Virk unmarked in the left circle. Virk smacked a one-timer past Malinoski’s blocker, and it was 2-2. Seattle would say thank you very much, as Kale Margolis of Tri-City late in regulation at 18:05 threw the puck out of play, and the Seattle power play would get to work for the sixth time in the game.

With just forty seconds left, Colton Gerrior fired a shot from the point that made its way through traffic and five-hole on Ryan Grout. Things got scrappy at the end with just seconds remaining, as six players from both sides combined would leave the ice with ten-minute misconducts to close out the regular season. Seattle would officially win 3-2 and go 4-1-1 on the year against Tri-City. Seattle went 2/6 on the power play and outshot Tri-City 31-28. Tri-City went 1/5 on the power play.

Colton Gerrior of Seattle who scored just his fourth goal of the season, the game-winning goal, was awarded the third star. Antonio Martorana picked up the second star with a goal and assist, both happened on March 11th. Jackson Smith would pick up first star with a goal and assist.

Injury Report

Forwards Cash Koch and Grady Martin were missing from the lineup. Koch was missing on Saturday and Sunday due to running into a teammate on Friday against Portland, and Grady Martin sustained an injury a week ago, missing all three games this weekend.

What’s Next

Make sure you keep coming back to Area 51 as the WHL playoffs get started!