Americans Pull Even Late, Fall in Shootout to Royals
Published on December 17, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release
Tri-City opened their season series against the Royals on Friday. After a back-and-forth affair, the Americans found a late tying goal to send the game to overtime, but ultimately fell 7-6 in a shootout.
Americans captain Marc Lajoie opened scoring with his first goal of the season six minutes into the game. The 19-year-old defenseman capitalized on a power play opportunity as he put home a centering pass from Jake Sloan. Tri-City's one goal lead didn't last for long. Brayden Schuurman scored for Victoria a minute later, followed by a goal from Riley Gannon later in the period to give the Royals a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. Tri-City trailed shots 14-7 through the first 20 minutes.
Tri-City found their offensive stride in the second period.
Deagan McMillan tied the game for the Americans, scoring from the low slot off a pass from Sloan, similar to Tri-City's first goal of the night. The Ams took a 3-2 lead six minutes into the second frame as Parker Bell forced a turnover at the Americans blue line and skated around the Royals defense in the slot, scoring blocker side on Royals netminder Nicholas Cristiano. Two minutes later, Reese Belton cleaned up a rebound off a shot from Alex Serraglio to extend the lead to 4-2. The Americans continued to build momentum as Andrew Fan picked up a rebound at the right circle and then, down on one knee, buried it over Cristiano's blocker.
Tri-City's three goal lead didn't slow Victoria. The Royals responded with four straight goals, holding a 6-5 lead by late third period.
Ethan Ernst redirected a shot from Lukas Dragicevic with 50 seconds left, sending the game to overtime. Dragicevic's assist extends his historic point streak to 23-games, tying Brendan Shinnimin for Tri-City's point streak record in the internet era (1996-97).
Jared Picklyk made his first start in net with the Americans last night after recently being acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He turned aside 41 of 47 shots faced and two of five shots in the shootout.
Bell, a Calgary Flames prospect, led the Americans with a goal and three assists, his first four-point night of the season and second of his career.
Tri-City's past four games against the Royals have been one-goal games. Two have ended in overtime and one in a shootout.
Shots: 47-29 VIC
Score: 7-6 VIC - SO
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