Wild Power Play Sets New Season-Best in 8-1 Win Friday

Category: ArticleMarch 9, 2024

Photo Courtesy: Russ Alman/Wenatchee Wild

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KENNEWICK, Wash. – In last month’s meeting between the Wenatchee Wild and Tri-City Americans, Tri-City got 53 saves from Lukas Matecha and became the first team in the season series to win in the other team’s barn. Wenatchee was dominant in returning the favor Friday at Toyota Center, scoring seven unanswered goals – four of them on the power play – in earning an 8-1 victory. The game closed out the season series at four wins apiece for the Wild and Americans, though Wenatchee earned an extra point with an overtime loss at Tri-City on November 17.

The Wild opened the scoring 8:31 into the game, when Evan Friesen found Briley Wood on the right wing for a tap-in on a pass atop the crease. Tri-City tied the contest with less than 10 seconds left in the period, though – Lukas Dragicevic stepped out of the penalty box in time to take the puck to the Wild net, and as Brendan Gee attempted to find the puck off the initial shot, Parker Bell swept in to toss home the tying tally.

After Friesen’s goal at the 53-second mark of the second period, though, it was all Wenatchee – Wood’s shot down the slot was blocked out front for Friesen to finish for a 2-1 advantage. With 3:08 left in the period, Wenatchee entered the Tri-City zone 2-on-1 and Wood hammered home a transition one-timer from Kenta Isogai for the two-goal advantage.

Wenatchee started the third period on the power play, with Wood setting up Isogai for a backhand one-timer just 20 seconds out of the break for a 4-1 lead. Miles Cooper made his mark at 4:50 of the third, deflecting in a Graham Sward shot for another power play marker. Maddix McCagherty hit the top of the net at 9:08 for a 6-1 Wild lead, followed by back-to-back power play goals from Rodzers Bukarts and Hayden Moore to close the night.

Friday’s game was a career night for Wood, who finished with two goals and three assists, his first five-point game in the Western Hockey League. Sward had three assists, while Isogai wrapped up with a goal and two assists, becoming the first Wenatchee player this season to reach the 30-goal plateau. The Wild set a new season-best on the power play, going 4-for-6 while also shutting down their hosts on three power play chances, as 14 different Wenatchee skaters picked up at least one point.

Gee made 23 saves for his 15^th win of the season – Tri-City’s tandem in net was a tag-team effort, with Matecha stopping 28 of 33 shots against him. However, he left the game with an injury with 14:09 left in the third period, with Kyle Kelsey going 6-for-9 in his stead. Wenatchee bumped its record to 32-25-4-0 for the season, while the Ams dipped to 22-36-2-1 with the loss. The Wild victory, coupled with losses for both Victoria and Vancouver, dropped Wenatchee’s magic number to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs to just eight points.

Wenatchee continues its brief U.S. Division road trip Saturday at the Portland Winterhawks, with the opening puck drop at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum slated for 6 p.m. Live coverage is available on Newsradio 560 KPQ and CHL TV.

Next on the home schedule for Wenatchee is a visit from the Spokane Chiefs on Friday, March 15 for 80s Night, presented by Weinstein Beverage, with the opening puck drop set for 7 p.m. Tickets for that game and all home regular-season games are on sale now at 509-888-7825, online here or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. Wild playoff packages and 2024-25 season tickets are now on sale as well – updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team’s website and on the team’s social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Wenatchee 1 2 5 – 8
Tri-City 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Wenatchee, Wood 26 (Friesen, Isogai), 8:31. 2, Tri-City, Bell 28 (Dragicevic, Serraglio), 19:50. Penalties-McCagherty Wen (roughing), 10:41; Smith Tc (roughing), 10:41; Sward Wen (slashing), 12:15; Dragicevic Tc (roughing), 12:15; Dragicevic Tc (high sticking), 17:43.

2nd Period-3, Wenatchee, Friesen 23 (Wood, Prosofsky), 0:53. 4, Wenatchee, Wood 27 (Isogai), 16:52. Penalties-MacAdams Tc (boarding), 1:03; Prosofsky Wen (slashing), 7:05; Sward Wen (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:42; Dragicevic Tc (holding), 15:42; Ward Wen (roughing), 19:07; Fan Tc (cross checking), 19:07; Koch Tc (roughing), 19:07.

3rd Period-5, Wenatchee, Isogai 30 (Wood, Sward), 0:20 (PP). 6, Wenatchee, Cooper 15 (Sward, Wood), 4:50 (PP). 7, Wenatchee, McCagherty 9 (Sward, Arp), 9:08. 8, Wenatchee, Bukarts 13 (Dawson Seitz, Woo), 11:49 (PP). 9, Wenatchee, Moore 12 (Shcherbyna, Young), 13:08 (PP). Penalties-Adam Tc (hooking), 4:11; McCagherty Wen (checking to the head), 6:02; Dragicevic Tc (roughing), 11:01; Tien Tc (roughing), 12:32; McCagherty Wen (tripping), 15:00.

Shots on Goal-Wenatchee 9-20-13-42. Tri-City 6-11-7-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Wenatchee 4 / 6; Tri-City 0 / 3.
Goalies-Wenatchee, Gee 15-8-1-0 (24 shots-23 saves). Tri-City, Matecha 13-19-1-1 (33 shots-28 saves); Kelsey 10-16-1-1 (9 shots-6 saves).
A-4,643
Referees-Bryan Bourdon (45), Jarrod Lucoe (43).
Linesmen- , Nick Albinati (3).