Preston OT Winner, Lin's 3 Points Lift Giants Past Americans 4-3
Published on January 10, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Vancouver Giants celebrate with the crowd
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)
LANGLEY, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants edged the Tri-City Americans 4-3 in overtime on Friday night thanks to a goal from new addition Mathis Preston, who scored the game-winner 26 seconds into the extra frame.
The Giants held a 2-0 after 20 minutes and entered the third period up 3-1, before the Americans fought back to tie the game 3-3 and send it to overtime. The draft-eligible Preston tucked his 15th of the season to win the game off a great individual effort, where he dangled his way to the net and finished on the backhand.
The Giants improve to 17-22-1-1 following the win, while the Americans fall to 20-15-3-0.
Ryan Lin had a standout night in his first game wearing the 'C', scoring twice and adding an assist to give him 50 points on the season. He is the first draft-eligible CHL defenceman to hit the 50-point plateau. Lance McCloskey also scored for the G-Men, his first career goal in the WHL.
Savin Virk, Jakub Vanecek and Carter Kingerski each scored for the visitors.
GAME SUMMARY
Lin opened the score just 2:32 in with a seeing-eye wrist shot from the blueline.
He notched his second of the night just a few minutes later on a power play to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.
Virk got the visitors to within a goal when he scored on a Tri-City power play, tucking home the puck at the side of the net.
Just 44 seconds later, McCloskey scored his first career WHL goal on a wrist shot from the right circle to put Vancouver back out in front 3-1.
Tri-City struck twice in the third period to tie the game.
First, Vanecek scored 1:39 into the third when he was wide open joining the rush as the trailer heading down the middle of the ice and deked to the backhand for his sixth goal of the season.
At the 12:38 mark of the third, Kingerski deflected a point shot past Hood to tie the game.
The Giants scored on their first possession of the overtime, after Preston dangled his way to the front of the net thanks to a pick from new teammate Misha Volotovskii.
STATISTICS
SOG: VAN - 12/11/7/1 = 31 | TC - 12/11/10 = 33
PP: VAN- 0/2 | TC - 1/4
Face-Offs: VAN - 29 | TC - 30
3 STARS
1st: VAN - Ryan Lin - 2G, 1A, 5 SOG, +2
2nd: VAN - Mathis Preston - OTW, 1A, 6 SOG, +1
3rd: VAN - Lance McCloskey - 1st Career WHL Goal, 3 SOG
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Vancouver: WIN - Burke Hood (30 saves / 33 shots)
Tri-City: LOSS - Ryan Grout (27 saves / 31 shots)
THEY SAID IT
"We had a pretty hot start and we were controlling the game in the first period and then it got away from us. Starting to drift away in the second and then in the third period we were sitting back a little bit there, which we don't want to do, but just sticking with it. Our guys were really moving tonight. Obviously the OT winner with Mathis was a great way to put a stamp on it." - Giants Captain Ryan Lin
"More than anything, just wanted [the new guys] to go out and play, and play for each other and I thought they did that tonight. Nice to kind of kick off this post-trade deadline era with a win. Hopefully we can build off of it tomorrow." - Head Coach Parker Burgess
UPCOMING
The Giants have a home-and-home with Wenatchee to close out the weekend.
Date Opponent Location Time
Saturday, January 10 Wenatchee Langley Events Centre 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 11 Wenatchee Town Toyota Center 4:00 PM
Stream all Giants games for free on Victory+.
The Giants next home game is on Saturday, January 10 against Wenatchee! Grab your seats at VancouverGiants.com/tickets.
Images from this story
 Vancouver Giants battle the Tri-City Americans (Rob Wilton) |
 Vancouver Giants celebrate a goal against the Tri-City Americans (Rob Wilton) |
 Vancouver Giants defenceman Ryan Lin (Rob Wilton) |
 Vancouver Giants celebrate with the crowd (Rob Wilton) |
Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2026
- Bear Nets Winner in 4-1 Dub over Cougars - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Explode in Third Period, Take Down Warriors, 7-3 - Tri-City Americans
- Free, Weiermair Score, But Hawks Fall to Rockets' Third Period Surge - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Tie Longest Franchise Win Streak with 17th Win, 7-4, over Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Earn Point in 3-2 OT Loss to Rebels - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Finish Road Swing Perfect After Win in Prince Albert - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Drop Sixth Straight in 4-1 Setback to Everett - Prince George Cougars
- Warriors Fall After Americans Tally Six Unanswered Goals - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Williams to Stay with Oil Kings for Remainder of Season - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Petr, Sparks Score First Goals as Chiefs in Spokane's 3-1 Win over Victoria Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Four-Goal Second Period Fuels Pats' 6-3 Win over Wheat Kings - Regina Pats
- Second Period Slump Sinks Wheat Kings against Regina - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Preview: Vees at Blazers - Penticton Vees
- Game Preview: Game 40 VS Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Face off against Royals for Second Night of Back-To-Back on the Island - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings and Raiders Collide in Prince Albert - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Warriors Look to Stay in the Win Column - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Preview: Americans vs Warriors - January 10, 2026 - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: January 10 vs Kelowna - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Can't Claw Past Tigers - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Preston OT Winner, Lin's 3 Points Lift Giants Past Americans 4-3 - Vancouver Giants
- Moose Jaw Claws out 4-2 Win at Wenatchee Friday - Wenatchee Wild
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