Bassen’s Points Come in Bunches Sunday as Wild Top Winterhawks in Overtime, 4-3
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sunday’s game at the Portland Winterhawks checked quite a few boxes for the Wenatchee Wild.
The Wild gutted out a 4-3 overtime win away from home, their fourth road victory of the Western Hockey League season, surrendering just 30 shots on net and sweeping a weekend pair against Portland. Riley Bassen set a new personal-best since joining the Wenatchee roster, scoring three points, including a pivotal game-tying goal early in the third period. Alex Andre notched his first WHL goal as well, and the Wild returned to the scoring column on the power play after being held off the board against the Everett Silvertips on Saturday.
Three of Mathias Silaban’s four goals this season have come in Portland, starting with the game’s first goal just 3:38 into the game with a backhand tap-in on the breakaway. Sam Spehar tied the contest with 2:48 left in the period, pushing the puck around Tobias Tvrznik at the top of the crease before tapping it in.
32 seconds into the second period, Jordan Duguay gave the Winterhawks a 2-1 advantage, jamming in a point-blank chance after Alex Weiermair danced the puck to the slot and tossed it on the net. With 3:23 left in the period, Andre made his mark, pitching a wrist shot past Cruz Chase from just outside the slot to Chase’s right, tying the game again.
Portland went to the intermission with a 3-2 lead after Carter Sotheran walked the puck through the left-wing circle and faced up for a wrister from deep in the circle with 25 seconds on the clock. That was as good as the evening got for the Winterhawks – Bassen’s goal came on the power play just two-and-a-half minutes into the third, banging in a rebound off a shot down the slot from Nolan Caffey.
The overtime session took all of 19 seconds – Josh Toll’s shot sneaked by Chase from the top corner of the slot, giving him his second goal of the year and Wenatchee its third straight overtime victory. The Wild are now 3-2 in overtime, winning a pair of games in November against Saskatoon and Prince Albert before nabbing another one Sunday.
In all, nine Wild players finished with at least one point, but only Bassen ended the night with more than one. Duguay picked up a goal and an assist for Portland, while Weiermair had two assists. Tvrznik earned his 11th win of the season behind 27 saves, while Chase made 25 saves in taking the overtime loss.
Wenatchee boosted its power play percentage with a 1-for-4 finish and denied the Winterhawks a goal on three power play chances. The Wild snapped a five-game win streak for the home team in the series, though Portland did earn a point in its fifth straight home game.
Wenatchee comes out of the weekend with a 15-20-1-1 mark for the season, while the Winterhawks slipped to 20-17-2-0 – the Wild won three of four this past week and tied the Seattle Thunderbirds for the 11th spot in the Western Conference race, though the Thunderbirds come into the upcoming week with three games in hand.
The Wild return to home ice Friday as they welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors for their Bleed Blue game, presented by the American Red Cross. Fans are encouraged to give blood in Wenatchee’s Red Cross blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Town Toyota Center Friday – fans who donate blood that day will receive a free ticket voucher for the game that night. Friday’s opening puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.
Tickets for Friday’s game and all regular-season Wild home games are on sale now by phone at 509-888-7825, online here or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. 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, X, Instagram and YouTube.
1st Period-1, Wenatchee, Silaban 4 (Bassen, Vanek), 3:38. 2, Portland, Spehar 8 (McLaughlin, Free), 17:12. Penalties-Brown Por (holding opp. stick), 9:09.
2nd Period-3, Portland, Duguay 13 (Weiermair), 0:32. 4, Wenatchee, Andre 1 (Han, Wedman), 16:37. 5, Portland, Sotheran 6 (Weiermair, Duguay), 19:35. Penalties-served by Domenichelli Por (too many men), 1:59; Smith Wen (hooking), 6:49; Free Por (interference), 7:50.
3rd Period-6, Wenatchee, Bassen 2 (Caffey, Tait), 2:29 (PP). Penalties-Sotheran Por (holding opp. stick), 1:25; Rolsing Wen (holding), 6:19; Zane Saab Wen (tripping), 10:25.
OT Period-7, Wenatchee, Toll 2 (Bassen), 0:19. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Wenatchee 8-10-9-2-29. Portland 15-6-9-0-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Wenatchee 1 / 4; Portland 0 / 3.
Goalies-Wenatchee, Tvrznik 11-13-0-1 (30 shots-27 saves). Portland, Chase 5-5-2-0 (29 shots-25 saves).
A-4,057
Referees-Corey Koop (53), Mark Pearce (5).
Linesmen-Erik Freeman (104), Mitchell Gibbs (142).
