The Tri-City Americans closed out 2025 with a 3–2 win in front of a sold-out crowd at the Toyota Center, marking the first time in three years the Americans have defeated Spokane on New Year’s Eve. Xavier Wendt was sensational in goal for Tri-City, stopping 48 shots to backstop the victory.

First Period

After a slow start for both teams, Spokane generated an early chance five minutes in when Chase Harrington was left unmarked in the low right circle, but Wendt flashed the glove to keep it scoreless.

Spokane would break through moments later off a Tri-City turnover. Coco Armstrong found himself in the same low right-circle spot that Harrington was in and buried a centering feed from Czech import Dominik Petr, picking his spot blocker side on Wendt just before the first media timeout.

Looking to spark some energy, Grady Martin dropped the gloves with Chase Harrington of Spokane in the Tri-City end. Harrington landed a few solid punches and managed to bring Martin down.

Shortly thereafter, Tri-City caught a break. Armstrong barreled in on a loose puck at the backdoor and one-timed a close-range shot. Wendt made a sprawling pad save, and while the puck appeared loose in the blue paint, officials blew the play dead early, likely preventing a 2–0 Spokane lead.

The Americans dodged another bullet when Spokane’s leading scorer Logan Wormald rang a shot off the post in the slot. Tri-City capitalized immediately, tying the game with 4:10 remaining in the period.

Savin Virk and Dylan LeBret executed a perfect give-and-go along the far boards. LeBret returned the puck to Virk, who quickly sent it back to LeBret in the right circle. With time and space, LeBret snapped a wrist shot through Carter Esler five-hole.

Tri-City carried momentum into the final minute, and Jake Gudelj gave the Americans their first lead of the night with just 12.5 seconds left in the period. Jaxen Adam’s point shot missed wide but kicked hard off the end boards to Gudelj in the left circle. Gudelj drove the net before lifting a backhand over Esler’s glove for his fourth goal of the season and goals in back-to-back games.

Tri-City took a 2–1 lead into the first intermission after weathering early Spokane pressure.

Second Period

Early in the second, Connor Dale nearly made it 3–1. Gavin Garland drove the puck below the left circle and slipped a backhand pass across the crease, but Esler denied Dale with a full-extension pad save.

Spokane appeared to tie the game just over five minutes in, but the goal was waved off after video review. The puck was shot on net but appeared to be jammed in while the puck was under his pad, and Wendt immediately protested, arguing he had been interfered with. Officials reviewed the play and quickly overturned the goal for goaltender interference.

Seven minutes into the period, Savin Virk extended the Tri-City lead.

Carter Savage sent a pass from the left point to Virk in the slot and Virk batted the puck out of mid-air, spun, and wired a wrist shot glove side past Esler for his team-leading goal and Tri-City’s third unanswered tally.

Spokane responded just past the halfway mark of the period. Asanali Sarkenov carried the puck in on the left wing and fed Owen Martin on the right side. Martin cut toward the net and snapped a blocker-side shot past Wendt to make it 3–2.

Late in the frame, Tri-City survived another scare. A strange bounce behind the net pulled Wendt out to play the puck, but a Spokane skater got there first and centered it. Wendt scrambled back and dove on the loose puck, preserving the one-goal lead.

Tri-City headed into the second intermission up 3–2, looking to snap Spokane’s two-game New Year’s Eve winning streak.

Third Period

Just two minutes into the third, Esler made a highlight-reel diving save on a backdoor chance to keep Spokane within one.

Carter Kingerski later drew Tri-City’s first power play of the night after being dragged down by Owen Martin, who was called for tripping. However, the advantage was quickly neutralized when David Krcal was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty off the draw, sending the teams to four-on-four.

For the remainder of the period, Wendt was the difference. Spokane outshot Tri-City 17–8 in the final frame, but Wendt turned aside every chance.

Spokane had one last push with a defensive-zone faceoff and 12 seconds remaining, but the Chiefs couldn’t capitalize. A scrum broke out in front of the Tri-City net as time expired. After officials restored 2.2 seconds to the clock and moved the faceoff outside the Tri-City zone, Tri-City then closed out the win.

Postgame / What’s Next

Tri-City extended their winning streak to six games—their longest of the season—and closed out 2025 with a 19–13–2 record. The Americans now sit fourth in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Portland and Kamloops.

Assistant Coach Ben Assad shared his thoughts on the 3–2 victory following the game.

“It was good to get the win. I don’t think we were at our best, that’s for sure, but at the end of the day, we got it done and that’s all that matters.”

Despite being outshot 50–24, Tri-City held firm behind Xavier Wendt’s stellar 48-save performance. Both teams finished 0-for-1 on the power play.

The Americans now enter their busiest month of the season, with 13 games on the January schedule—only five of them at home. That stretch begins this weekend with a road doubleheader in Victoria starting Saturday night.

Assad also touched on areas the team will need to focus on heading into the weekend.

“Just sticking to our identity, we know when we play to our identity, we can be a really good team. There’s times where we kind of lay off it a little bit and we struggle. But obviously we don’t have the most elite talent out of any team. But when we play Tri-City American Hockey hard and heavy, getting pucks down low, that’s when we can be successful. So when we’re consistent with that, we’re a good team.”