The Tri-City Americans completed their weekend sweep with a 5–4 victory in Vancouver on Saturday night, thanks to a late equalizer from Jakub Vanecek and an overtime winner from Savin Virk.
First Period
Three minutes into the game, Vancouver generated the first high-danger chance.
Adam Titlbach used his speed to split through center ice and cut to the net on a partial breakaway. Despite heavy pressure from Jaxen Adam, Titlbach managed a shot that sailed over the net.
While Vancouver had the early opportunity, Tri-City controlled much of the period, outshooting the Giants 7–1 through the opening seven minutes.
Late in the frame, Cameron Schmidt took a stretch pass and drove the net, but Charlie Elick’s tight pressure limited his chance to a low-percentage shot, easily turned aside by Ryan Grout’s pad.
The first period ended scoreless in what was a relatively quiet frame on the stat sheet. Tri-City has now allowed just one goal over their last four periods of play. Shots after one: Tri-City 12, Vancouver 7.
Second Period
Vancouver struck quickly to open the scoring just one minute into the second period.
Jakob Oreskovic moved the puck low-to-high and found Colton Alain at the left point. Alain’s shot was redirected in front by Brett Olson to give the Giants the 1–0 lead.
Tri-City nearly tied it moments later when Crew Martinson connected with Cash Koch on a cross-ice feed. Koch broke in alone but was denied by goalie Burke Hood’s five-hole save.
Nine minutes into the period, Tri-City finally broke through.
Grady Martin fed Mason Mykichuk from behind the net, and from a sharp angle near the right circle, Mykichuk slipped a shot through Hood’s five-hole to make it 1–1.
Vancouver had a late power play in the period but couldn’t convert, and the game remained tied heading into the third.
Third Period
The third period delivered the most action of the night.
Tri-City opened the frame with their first power play opportunity but couldn’t capitalize. However, shortly after the penalty expired, Crew Martinson gave the Americans their first lead.
Camped near the side of the net, the 16-year-old relentlessly jabbed at a loose puck and eventually shoveled it past Hood for his third of the season, putting Tri-City ahead 2–1.
Vancouver responded with pressure of their own. Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt found Tyus Sparks wide open on the backdoor for a one-timer that tied the game at 2–2.
With five minutes remaining, Vancouver retook the lead.
Oreskovic carried the puck along the boards and fed Ryan Lin—a projected top-10 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft—in the slot. Lin snapped a precise glove-side shot past Grout to make it 3–2.
With the American’s net empty and time running out, Jakub Vanecek delivered in the clutch.
From the blue line, he ripped a snap shot through light traffic and beat Hood glove side for his fifth of the year, sending the game to overtime tied 4–4.
Overtime
Tri-City entered their fourth overtime game of the season with a 1–2 record in extra time—but this one ended quickly.
Just 27 seconds in, team points leader and the Surrey BC native Savin Virk took over to get the win for Tri-City.
After circling back in his own zone, Virk gathered speed up the left wing, cut to the middle, before making his way to the right circle and firing a shot that went bar-down on Hood, sealing a 5–4 Americans victory.
Post Game/What’s Next
It was a gutsy effort from Tri-City, especially considering they wrapped up a home win over Regina late last night and didn’t arrive in Vancouver until around 5 a.m. Despite the fatigue, the Americans swept their weekend set and improved to 2–0 this season against the Giants.
Jakub Vanecek had a standout game with a goal and two assists, while Virk’s overtime winner pushed him to a team-leading 18 points.
With the win, Tri-City improves to 10-9-2 and returns home to begin a four-game homestand starting next Friday. The home stand will conclude with the annual Teddy Bear Toss game against Everett.
