Americans' Home Winning Streak Ends With Loss To Wenatchee
November 30, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
Kennewick, WA - Tri-City Americans (18-6-1-0) saw their 10-game winning streak at the Toyota Center come to an end Saturday night as the Wenatchee Wild (9-12-3-1) scored four times in the third period to pick up a 5-2 win.
The Americans couldn't have started the game off much better, dominating the opening shift before scoring in the first minute. Gavin Garland took a centering feed from Carter MacAdams and fired a shot past the blocker of Zach Zahara just 54 seconds in to give Tri-City a 1-0 lead.
Both teams had numerous chances to find the back of the net for the remainder of the period, but Lukas Matecha and Zahara stood tall as the two teams went to the intermission with the score still 1-0.
Zahara's play allowed the Wild to tie the game in the early stages of the second period. After a turnover at the Wenatchee blue line, the Wild took off through center ice on an odd-man rush.
Maddix McCagherty dropped the puck to Reid Andresen who beat Matecha on the blocker from the slot, tying the game at one 6:03 into the period.
Despite the shots reading 28-19 Americans through 40 minutes, the game remained 1-1 heading into the third period. The Wild then took the lead in the opening minute of the final frame.
Evan Friesen skated into the Americans zone on right wing before floating the puck toward the net with traffic heading there. The puck deflected off the leg of Kenta Isogai and into the back of the net, giving Wenatchee their first lead just 31 seconds into the third.
Three minutes later Friesen snapped a shot through the five hole of Matecha from the left circle on the power play, pushing the Wild lead to 3-1. The Americans called their 30-second time out after the goal.
The time out seemed to help as Tri-City pulled within one not long after. Grady Martin centered the puck from behind the net, and Cruz Pavao's shot attempt deflected right to Nick Anisimovicz who fired the puck into the open goal. His fourth of the year came 1:12 after the Wild power play goal.
That goal was as close as Tri-City would get however, as Zane Saab scored on a two-on-one rush five minutes later to restore Wenatchee's two-goal lead. Isogai then hit the empty net from his own side of center to cap off the scoring in the 5-2 final.
The loss was just the second on home ice for the Americans this season as they drop to 10-2-0-0 at the Toyota Center. It was also the first of a four-game home stand for Tri-City, with their next game coming Friday, December 6 against the Vancouver Giants (10-9-4-0).
That game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss night for the Americans. Fans are encouraged to bring a new or lightly used stuffed animal and throw it onto the ice following the first Americans goal of the game. All items will be gathered and donated locally.
Announced attendance was 5,003.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2024
- Tigers Take Hitmen, 7-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Temple Scores in Home Debut, Tips Win 7-1 Over Kamloops - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Put Nine Past Pats In Saturday Night Victory - Kelowna Rockets
- Snell Shuts Door on Cougars for First Career Win, Shutout - Edmonton Oil Kings
- T-Birds Settle for Split in Victoria - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Chiefs Win Round One with 5-1 Knockout Over Portland - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans' Home Winning Streak Ends With Loss To Wenatchee - Tri-City Americans
- Pats Fall 9-1 in Kelowna - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Win Round One With 5-1 Knockout Over Portland - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Take Bite Out Of Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Wild Close November, End Tri-City Win Streak with 5-2 Victory Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Controversial Goal Costs Wheat Kings in Red Deer - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hawks Drop 5-1 Road Decision to Chiefs - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Preview: Cougars at Oil Kings - Prince George Cougars
- Silvertips Bounce Back with 7-1 Rout over Vancouver - Everett Silvertips
- Oil Kings Back at Home to Battle Cougars - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs Take on Winterhawks Saturday in First of Back-To-Back Contests - Spokane Chiefs
- Rockets Return Home To Face Pats In Only Meeting This Season - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos in Search of a Win in Saskatoon - Swift Current Broncos
- Gameday Preview: Game 27 vs Calgary Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Squad Flying West for Two-Game Road Trip - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Game Day Hub: November 30 at Spokane - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Reign in the Royals - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Preview: Americans vs Wild - November 30 - Tri-City Americans
- Tri-City Escapes Town Toyota Center Friday with 4-3 Win Over Wild - Wenatchee Wild
- Pats Drop Opening Game of Road Trip - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Special Teams Leads Way in Win Over Giants - Vancouver Giants
- MacAdams' Late Goal Gives Americans Fifth Straight Win, 4-3, Over Wild - Tri-City Americans
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
