Silvertips score late game winner to take series lead
The Everett Silvertips broke a 2-2 deadlock in the final five minutes of game three, as they beat the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 to take a 2-1 series lead in the WHL Championship Series Presented by Nutrien.
Everett struck first for the third straight game in the WHL Championship Series, as Matias Vanhanen put the visitors up 1-0 with 8:15 to go in the first. Dancing in the offensive zone, Vanhanen skated from the slot to the left circle, sniping a shot far side past Michal Orsulak’s blocker. It was his 11th goal of the season, opening the scoring in game three.
Prince Albert responded with 1:41 left in the first, as they scored a powerplay goal to tie the game. At the blue line, Braeden Cootes and Brock Cripps exchanged passes. Cripps dealt to Cootes at the left circle, and Cootes send a one touch pass to the left circle for Max Heise. Locked and loaded, Heise ripped a one timer past Anders Miller, scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs, tying the game at 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Just 1:59 into the second period, the Raiders grabbed their first lead of the game, as rookie forward Ben Harvey tipped a shot home. Maddix McCagherty dropped the puck along the wall to Justice Christensen, who wheeled with it up to the top of the left circle. The Raiders captain fired a shot on goal that Harvey deflected on the way, beating Miller over his right shoulder. Harvey got on the board for the fourth time this postseason, putting the Raiders up 2-1.
This time it was Everett’s time to tie the game late in the period, as they scored with 1:53 to go in the second. From the blue line, Silvertips defenceman Luke Vlooswyk scored his first goal of the playoffs, firing a shot past Orsulak through traffic to make it 2-2.
The game would be tied heading into the third, although the Raiders would need a big penalty kill to start the third, as they were shorthanded with Everett on a five on three man advantage.
The game winning goal came with 4:28 left in the third period, as Julius Miettinen came up clutch for the Silvertips. After Orsulak made an initial save, Miettinen followed up on the rebound, backhanding a shot over Orsulak’s blocker, scoring his 13th goal of the playoffs, giving Everett a 3-2 lead.
To make matters worse, the Raiders took a penalty in the final two minutes, putting a major stall into their comeback bid at the end of the game. In the dying seconds, a Prince Albert shot missed just over the net, the buzzer sounded, and the Silvertips came away with a 3-2 win, taking a 2-1 series lead.
Game four of the WHL Championship Series is Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7:30pm.
