The Tri-City Americans won their home opener 3-1 against the Everett Silvertips Saturday night. Lukas Matecha, the 99th overall pick in the 2023 CHL Import Draft, shined again. Matecha stopped 32 of 33 and was a critical factor in helping the Tri-Cities penalty kill stop all eight of Everetts’s powerplays. As a reward, Matecha got the first star of the night.
In the first period, both teams were feeling each other out, and American fans were getting involved in the game making noise as they always have for the past 36 seasons. That goal would have to wait another period, however.
The second period seemed to be going much like the first. However, the refs wanted to change that up slightly with some questionable calls throughout the period. These calls did not come back to bite the Americans. As the second period winded down at 18:10, Ethan Peters got the building rocking after a harmless shot from the point found its way in.
In the third, both teams began to ramp it up physically as they each tried to search for another goal. The Americans wouldn’t have to wait long as a Roan Woodward cross-checking penalty would lead to Brandon Whynott sneaking a puck by the mask of Ethan Chadwick near the trap, making it 2-0 Tri-City.
A minute later, Deagan McMillan and Andrew Petruk decided to participate in some fisticuffs at Center Ice. Both were given a game-misconduct and five-minute majors for fighting and done for the night. McMillan and Petruk both got their chances before they dragged each other down.
A few minutes later, Everett would answer and get right back into the game. Austin Roest would pound one home and make it a one-goal game with 12 minutes left. Jake Gudelj would have something to say, though, and with time winding down, at 18:12, Gudelj would get the insurance goal and seal the game for the Americans.
Tri-City is back in action next Friday, Oct. 13, as they host the Brandon Wheat Kings with puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 