AFTERMATH // In It Til the End
By Staci C. – Silvertips staff writer
In a game that was much closer than the final score indicated, the Silvertips got a shorthanded goal by Bryce Kindopp in the first period as the Winterhawks took the second meeting, 4-1 in downtown Everett.
A look at three things from the evolution of Saturday’s game:
1) BRYCE YOURSELVES: Bryce Kindopp had an explosive weekend against Everett’s two main rivals. Everett had a rough couple of shifts in the first that led to Portland’s first goal and then a penalty shortly after. Kindopp was able to capitalize on a mistake in the defensive zone and use his speed to carry the puck up the ice. Kindopp went in all alone versus Farkas and fired a laser beam of a wrister glove side to tie the game with a shorthanded goal.
This weekend was truly a testament to how dangerous Kindopp can be on the ice; he is there waiting to capitalize on any missteps that his opponents may make and can speed down the ice.
2) THE LITTLE THINGS, AND GOALTENDING THINGS: Everett did an excellent job with cutting off passes with speed and their bodies. There were also an impressive amount of blocked shots—thank goodness for pads! Everett did particularly well in the neutral game and disallowing Portland from making clean entries into the defensive zone and preventing them from generating good cycles. It also helps that Dustin Wolf continues to be outstanding playing in every minute of the regular season.
Wolf made an impressive 27 saves for the evening.
3) ALWAYS A BATTLE: It was only the second game out of ten between these two foes, but the Everett-Portland rivalry is really heating up and it has been extremely fun. Both teams are very evenly matched, fast and carry intensity over from last season’s second round playoffs. Where can the rivalry between the Tips and Winterhawks go?
A majority of the game saw special teams needing to play a large role; the Tips continue great work on the penalty kill as they successfully killed four out of five penalties tonight. The power play generated several looks and their ability to tire out Portland’s penalty killers by extended offensive zone time preventing Portland changes on the fly for a routine basis.
The Tips now get five days off. Up next is their only date of the season against the Edmonton Oil Kings, Friday Oct. 12 in downtown Everett at 7:35 p.m. (1520 AM / 101.1 FM / Tips App / WHL Live). It will start three games in three days.
