RECAP // Tips Drop Home Opener
By Staci C. – Silvertips staff writer
EVERETT, Wash. – Sasha Mutala earned a goal and three assists to help move the Tri-City Americans past the Everett Silvertips, 4-2 in the season opener of 2019-20 before 5,318 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday in WHL action.
Bryce Kindopp, in his first game as Silvertips captain, earned a goal and an assist.
The Tips raised their 2018-19 U.S. Division banner to the rafters and got the crowd buzzing early on with Jackson Berezowski’s first of the season, a power play goal at 4:24 to give the Tips a 1-0 lead when he was set up by Wyatte Wylie between the circles. Dustin Wolf, who had 20 saves on the night, came up with a big breakaway save on Connor Bouchard late in the first period.
Nikita Krivokrasov scored a pair of goals in the game and buried his first of the game at 11:27 of the second period on a rebound, and then tacked on his second via a backhanded deke at 1:52 of the third period to give Tri-City their first lead of the game.
Samuel Huo’s snap shot off the rush put Tri-City ahead, 3-1 at 5:29 on a delayed penalty but the Tips killed off the infraction, and got back in the game on Kindopp’s first of the season at 10:10 of the period when he walked in on Warm from the left circle.
Wolf turned away Paycen Bjorklund on a breakaway and Conrad Mitchell nearly tied the game but was stopped on a snapshot, on a breakaway with five minutes left.
Mutala sealed the game on an empty netter with 1:33 to go.
NOTES: Scratched from the lineup were Martin Fasko-Rudas, Brendan Lee, and Ty Gibson … the Tips outshot Tri-City, 30-24 and went 40-of-66 at the faceoff circle … Max Patterson led the Tips at the face-off dot with a 13-of-21 effort.
UP NEXT: The Tips close their two-game homestand tomorrow against the Victoria Royals at 7:05 p.m. (KRKO / WHL Live).
- TICKETS | SATURDAY VS. VIC, 9/21
CLOSER LOOK: 1) Everett had a very strong start to their game when they drew a penalty within minutes of puck drop and saw a beautiful power play goal from Jackson Berezowski thanks to a great set up by Kindopp and Wylie. Berezowski, Kindopp and Wylie have been consistently productive on the power play – their magic carried over.
2) There was a lot of excitement drawn back into the arena when Bryce Kindopp scored his first of the year to get the tips back within one—Kindopp played very well with a goal and an assist, and had a lot of good looks.
3) The Tips continue the momentum of last season by playing fast and hard, while maintaining puck possession throughout the game. For tomorrow, it’s a chance to reset against Victoria.
2019-20 SCHEDULE, TICKET INFORMATION
The Tips full regular season schedule offers full 34-game season tickets, 22-game, and 14-game plans for as little as $215 total per seat. Deposits for $50 will secure a seat for the 2019-20 season, available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season or by calling (425) 252-5100 during normal business hours (Monday through Thursday during the offseason, 9am to 4pm). Seven game packs are now on sale.
Follow the Silvertips: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat (evt_silvertips)
