After a rough opening period and a half, Tri-City found its game, scoring four straight unanswered goals and completing a dramatic comeback with an overtime winner to defeat Wenatchee 4–3 on the road. The much-needed win snapped a two-game skid in a tight Western Conference race.

First Period

Tri-City faced an early test just 1:40 into the game when Cash Koch was sent off for roughing, as undisciplined play from recent contests carried over into this one.

Moments after killing the penalty, Wenatchee opened the scoring. Defenseman Daniel Vaillancourt fired a long shot from the point that deflected off Jakub Vanecek. Tri-City goaltender Ryan Grout made the initial save, but Grady Wedman quickly buried the rebound to make it 1–0.

Wenatchee continued to apply pressure throughout the period and capitalized on a turnover 12 minutes in. Nolan Caffey carried the puck down the right wing before sending a saucer pass to Zane Torre, who beat Grout at the back post to extend the lead to 2–0.

With two minutes remaining, Tri-City earned a power-play opportunity after being outplayed and outshot 11–4 to that point. Despite owning the fewest power-play chances in the WHL, the Americans were unable to convert, and Wenatchee carried a 2–0 lead into the first intermission.

Second Period

Wenatchee continued to control play in the second, and things worsened for Tri-City halfway through the frame when Jakub Vanecek was whistled for a penalty. The Wild power play made it count, as Caelan Joudrey slid one home to make it 3–0.

Shortly after, Jake Gudelj took a penalty, sending Wenatchee back to the man advantage as discipline continued to plague Tri-City.

However, the momentum began to shift following the penalty kill. Wenatchee goaltender Tobias Tvrznik misplayed the puck, which bounced to Savin Virk at the blue line. Virk fired the puck into a wide-open net, giving Tri-City a gift goal and cutting the deficit to 3–1.

That tally flipped the momentum, and Tri-City headed into the third period facing an uphill battle but with renewed energy.

Third Period

Tri-City surged in the final frame, outshooting Wenatchee 13–7 and scoring twice to tie the game.

Six minutes in, Savin Virk found Jake Gudelj on the back door, and Gudelj buried the chance past Tvrznik to make it 3–2.

Later in the period, Charlie Elick delivered once again in a crucial moment. Off a faceoff, Elick drifted into space from the right point, walked down toward the circle, and ripped a laser glove-side to tie the game at 3–3. It marked Elick’s second straight game with a goal — the first time he has scored in back-to-back games in his WHL career.

Regulation ended with the score even, sending Tri-City to overtime which seemed very unlikely after the first period effort.

Overtime

In the dying seconds of overtime, Connor Dale used his speed to drive the net from the left wing and fired a shot on goal. A scramble ensued in the blue paint, and the loose puck found its way across the line, with Dylan LeBret credited for the overtime winner. Dale earned first-star honors for his efforts on the decisive play.

Postgame / What’s Next

The victory was a crucial one for Tri-City in an extremely tight Western Conference race. With the win, the Americans leapfrogged Memorial Cup Hosts Kelowna and now sit fifth in the standings with a 23-17-3-1 record.

Ryan Grout picked up his first win in nearly a month, stopping 34 shots. His previous victory came December 28 against Portland.

Tri-City was outshot 37–30 and went 0-for-1 on the power play, while Wenatchee finished 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

Tri-City will look to close out a three-in-three homestand Sunday afternoon at 4:05 PM against the Kamloops Blazers.