The Tri-City Americans would live to see another day, down 3-0 in the series and in a hole, clawed out a win at home 6-4 to keep their season alive on Wednesday Evening. They secure a Game Five Friday Night at Home, as everyone up and down the lineup contributed for Tri-City with all six goal-scorers on Tri-City recording their first career playoff goals.

Jake Gudelj got the Yota’ popping just two minutes in to give the Americans their first lead this entire series. Cash Koch worked his way into the slot and fired a shot on net, the initial shot was saved by Johnny Hicks, but Gudelj went hard to the net and cleaned up the rebound. More than halfway through the first period, Grady Martin would get his first career playoff goal to double the Americans lead. Rookie Cruz Pavao, fresh off the bench, was just able to keep the puck in the Victoria end. Pavao then worked towards the middle, turned, and fired a shot from the point that was tipped by Martin net-front and in.

Not long after, the Victoria Royals would get their first and only goal on the power play this night as Tri-City failed to clear the puck after several chances went by the wayside. After Cole Reschny received a cross-ice pass, Reschny took a few steps into the slot and fired a shot that was blocked down into the blue paint. Reschny was then able to find the rebound amidst a sea of players and past Matecha. Following a period of play, Tri-City led 2-1, but were being outshot 15-12. Victoria would get the lone power play goal of the evening from both sides at the fifteen-minute marker.

Early on in the second, the dangerous top line for Victoria would even things up to make it 2-2. Trembecky at the left point slid it down to Cole Reschny at the bottom of the left circle. Reschny then centered it quickly to Isogai, who snapped a one-timer over Matecha’s glove. Moments later, Tri-City had an answer to regain the lead. Cash Koch got it to center ice from deep in the Americans end, overager Carter MacAdams then chopped it forward to Savin Virk, who had a breakaway. Virk then went up and over Hick’s glove.

Then just under a minute after the Virk goal, Jackson Smith would score from a sharp angle to end Johnny Hicks night early. Smith burst into the Victoria zone along the left wing. Smith driving wide just backhanded one on net hoping for a rebound, but he got much more, as it snuck under Hick’s glove and in from as stated a very sharp angle. Hicks, the reigning WHL Goalie of the Week, went 14/18 in the net. In for Hicks would come Jayden Krause as he would get his first minutes in net this series and hold the reigns for the rest of the contest in the Victoria net.

Just a minute under the halfway point, Victoria once again brought it within one. Defenseman Seth Fryer took a long shot from a point that was blocked down in the slot, Markus Loponen of Victoria was the first on the scene, gathering the puck and going glove side on Matecha through traffic. Tri-City would add one more with five minutes remaining in the second to take a two-goal lead into the final intermission. Right off the draw it was won to Charlie Elick along the right wing boards. Elick spun around and passed to Jackson Smith at the point. Smith fired a rocket of a one-timer that was tipped at the last moment by Cash Koch and in.

Following two very physical periods of play, Tri-City were winning 5-3, but the job wasn’t finished yet. Victoria would come out swinging in the third period, absolutely dominating play, and after four minutes of constant barrage, Lukas Matecha gave in, and Victoria was within one once again. The Royals got the puck deep and Brayden Boehm behind the Americans net was able to center it to Markus Loponen who put one glove side on Matecha for his second of the night.

Much like in the second, Tri-City had a response for everything Victoria did, and just a minute later, would make it a two-goal game again. Virk behind the net worked his way into the right circle, then the slot. Looking low, Virk spotted Max Curran unmarked in the left circle. Virk then fired a beautiful pass, and Curran walloped a one-timer past Jayden Krause, making it 6-4 Americans. Victoria would pull Krause with around three minutes left, but the Americans stood tall and would hold out for a 6-4 Victory.

Lukas Matecha, with the save of the night in the WHL came away with the third star, making 40 saves as well for Tri-City. Defenseman Jackson Smith’s two point night for Tri-City would give him second-star honors. Cash Koch with a Gordie-Howe Hat Trick earned him the first star.

Game 5 goes tonight so keep it locked on Area 51 for that coverage!