RECAP / Three’s Company At Prince Albert
By Silvertips staff
PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan – Carter Hart earned his 24th win of the season on 26 saves and the Everett Silvertips scored three times in the second period to cruise past the Prince Albert Raiders in a 3-1 victory before 2,014 fans at Art Hauser Centre in WHL action on Friday.
Winning their fourth consecutive game and five in the last six games, the Silveritps extended their lead at first place in the U.S. Division to three points after Tri-City defeated Seattle, 4-2 later in the evening. First star Patrick Bajkov scored for the second time in three games while Riley Sutter added the game winner.
The Tips reduced their magic number to eight, for an outright clinch of a playoff spot.
After a scoreless first period, the Silvertips struck on Eetu Tuulola’s tap-in rebound at 5:14 of the second on a Noah Juulsen blast from the point, and the Tips countered on an ensuing power play after Max Martin hit Tuulola during the goal celebration.
Matt Fonteyne delivered a saucer pass to Sutter, crashing the net, whose deflection slipped underneath Nicholas Sanders at 5:59 and was confirmed after video review.
Bajkov hiked the lead to 3-0 on the Tips second power play goal of the period at 12:44. Kevin Davis, stationed at the left point, dished a cross ice pass to Bajkov, who slammed a slap shot for his 23rd goal of the season, tying Dominic Zwerger for the Tips lead.
Hart came within 1:59 of his 19th career shutout but Curtis Miske logged Prince Albert’s only goal of the game on a deflection at the net, and the Tips closed out their fifth straight win over Prince Albert.
SILVERTIPS LINE COMBOS
96 / ZWERGER 17 / FONTEYNE 8 / BAJKOV
43 / DEWAR 28 / SKOLESKI 19 / KINDOPP
15 / RICHARDS 14 / SUTTER 82 / TUULOLA
33 / KING 11 / CENTAZZO
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
24 / SKRUMEDA 3 / JUULSEN
23 / CHRISTIANSEN 38 / DAVIS
29 / WYLIE 55 / IRVING
4 / WALKER
GOALTENDERS
70 / HART
31 / PETIT
NOTES: Silvertips scratches included Brandson Hein, Montana Onyebuchi, and Cal Babych … the Silvertips improved to 21-4-3 against teams outside the U.S. Division this season … Juulsen has six points in the last five games … Zwerger has points in three straight games … Silvertips alumnus Carson Stadnyk (2011-16) was in attendance.
The Silvertips conclude their six game road trip Saturday, visiting the Swift Current Broncos at Credit Union iPlex at 5:00 p.m. (1380 AM / 95.3 FM / Tips App).
NEXT HOME GAME
The Tips return to XFINITY Arena Friday, Feb. 24 in a 7:35 p.m. game against the Portland Winterhawks for Hockey Happy Hour. Doors will open at 6pm, and ticket / beverage packages are on sale at www.everettsilvertips.com/ticketpromos.
Silvertips season ticket or mini-plan packages are available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season or by calling (425) 252-5100.
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