The Tri-City Americans rebounded from a 4–3 overtime loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes with a thrilling 4–3 overtime victory against the defending 2025 WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers. Despite surrendering a 3–1 lead in the third period, Tri-City found redemption in extra time to take three of four possible points on the weekend.
1st Period
Tri-City came out with energy, showing solid composure following the previous night’s overtime loss. However, Medicine Hat opened the scoring on their first shot of the game at 7:41.
After a faceoff in the American’s zone, the puck bounced to the right point where Jonas Woo fired a shot through traffic that beat a screened Xavier Wendt, who never saw it.
The American’s responded almost immediately. Along the left boards, Carter Savage faked a drop pass and centered the puck to a wide-open Gavin Garland in front, who tapped it in to even the score at one apiece.
2nd Period
The game stayed tied deep into the second until Tri-City broke through with just over five minutes remaining.
Behind the net, Luka Gudelj shook a defender and cut to the crease for a chance that left the puck loose in front. Defenseman Charlie Elick jumped in from the point and chipped it past a crowded net front and an unaware Carter Casey, giving Tri-City their first lead of the game.
The Americans carried that 2–1 advantage into the intermission, looking to avoid another third-period letdown.
3rd Period
Tri-City started the third period determined to close it out and just over a minute in, Connor Dale added a huge insurance goal to make it 3–1.
At center ice, Jakub Vanecek danced through defenders and pushed the puck into the Tiger’s zone. Dale picked it up in the left circle, drove the net, and beat Casey blocker side with a slick move to give Tri-City a two-goal cushion.
But the momentum shifted fast. A careless penalty by Ismail Abogouche gave Medicine Hat its first power play, and the Tigers capitalized. After a missed centering feed by Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck collected the puck in the left circle and wired a shot past Wendt to cut the deficit to 3–2.
Moments later, another penalty, this time to Jaxen Adam for roughing and it would prove costly. Off the draw, a shot from Markus Ruck was deflected and saved by Wendt, but Jonas Woo buried the rebound for his second of the night, tying the game 3–3 just 26 seconds after Ruck’s goal.
Tri-City slowly regained control late, ringing a couple of shots off the crossbar before Bryce Pickford caught Cruz Pavao with a high stick, drawing blood and earning a four-minute power play that would extend into overtime.
Overtime
Carrying the man advantage into extra time, the Americans made it count. Just under two minutes in, Cruz Pavao, the player who drew the penalty, delivered the winner, ripping a wrister bar-down from the right circle. The goal marked his second in as many games and his first career overtime tally.
Postgame / What’s Next
With the win, Tri-City improves to 6–7–1 on the season, tied for ninth in the Western Conference. The Americans now have a 12 hour trip back home which should go a little quicker after the win and taking three of the possible four points this weekend to begin a six-game homestand next weekend.
The victory also marked Tri-City’s first over Medicine Hat since December 13, 2017.
Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Charlie Elick led the way with his best game of the year, recording a goal and two assists, while Xavier Wendt stopped 24 shots to earn the game’s third star, the lone American’s player among the night’s three stars.
