Silvertips Even the Series at 1-1 After a Saturday 7-3 Victory Over the Giants

The Vancouver Giants are coming home from Everett with a split on the road. Saturday night in Everett, WA the Giants fell 7-3 to the Everett Silvertips in Game 2 of their first-round series. Niko Huuhtanen paced the Silvertips attack with two goals and two assists while five other Silvertips notched multi-point games. Ethan Semeniuk, Mazden Leslie and Alex Cotton responded with goals for the Giants. Braden Holt made 29 saves in the Everett net while Will Gurski stopped 38 for Vancouver.

 GIANTS EARN A WEEKEND SPLIT WITH EVERETT

BOX SCORE

 1^st Period:

 EVT – Niko Huuhtanen (2) put Everett ahead early just 1:26 into the game on a power play one-timer from the left point. Olen Zellweger and Jacob Wright earned the assists.

EVT – Ryan Hofer made it 2-0 for Everett off a two-on-one rush down the right wing. Hofer’s second goal of the series was set up by Ben Hemmerling and Dylan Anderson. The of the goal was 15:09.

EVT – Just under two minutes later at 17:03, Jacob Wright (2) made it 3-0 for Everett when he finished off a stunning back-door feed from Niko Huuhtanen. Ronan Seeley had the second assist.

EVT – The final goal fo the period came at 18:39 from Niko Huuhtanen who went through his own legs and up high from in close to secure his second of the night and his third of the series. Ryan Hofer had the lone assist.

Shots: 22-6 Everett

2^nd Period:

VAN – With the Giants on a five-on-three power play to start the period, Ethan Semeniuk struck for his first of the series on his own rebound in close. Fabian Lysell and Zack Ostapchuk both assisted.

EVT – Everett’s fifth goal came from Olen Zellweger (1) off a low shot from the right-wing point. Ty Gibson and Austin Roest both factored in on the goal.

VAN – Mazden Leslie (1) moved the Giants back within three at the 13:25 mark when he followed up a Ty Thorpe breakaway and roofed home the rebound for his first career WHL playoff goal. Ty Thorpe and Adam Hall both assisted.

Vancouver 17 – 10 Vancouver

3^rd Period:

EVT – 3:20 into the third period, Michael Gut (1) converted on a five-on-three power play attempt for Everett. Gut’s goal was set up by Olen Zellweger and Niko Huuhtanen.

EVT – Everett’s final goal came from Ronan Seeley at 7:44 when a puck squirted loose from the Giants goal crease and onto his stick below the left-wing circle. Austin Roest and Hunter Campbell had the assists.

VAN –With only 20 seconds left in the game, Alex Cotton notched his second goal of the playoffs on a power play from a right-wing point shot. Jaden Lipinski and Connor Horning each assisted.

Shots: 13-9 Everett

 GAME SUMMARY

Final Score: Everett 7 – Vancouver 3 (Series tied 1-1)

Final Shots: 45-32 Everett

Will Gurski: 38/45 saves for Vancouver

Braden Holt: 29/32 saves for Everett

Vancouver Power Play: 2/8

Everett Power Play: 2/8

3 Stars:

• Niko Huuhtanen (EVT – 2G, 2A)
• Ryan Hofer (EVT – 1G, 1A)
• Olen Zellweger (EVT – 1G, 2A)

Next Game: The Giants and Silvertips return to action on Wednesday, April 27^th at the Langley Events Centre at 7:00 PM.

 NOTES                                                                                                                                    

• Giants forward Payton Mount left the game late in the first period after he was hit by Alex Swetlikoff. Swetlikoff was assessed a double-minor penalty for checking-from-behind. Payton Mount did not return to the game for Vancouver.
• The Vancouver Giants power play has scored twice in each game so far in the series. Heading into Game 3 the Giants are 4/12 on the power play.
• Fabian Lysell, Adam Hall, Zack Ostapchuk and Alex Cotton have each recorded points on both games so far in the series.