Bauml Leads ‘Tips to Wild 7-6 Shootout Win
EVERETT – Kohl Bauml recorded his second career hat trick and added the shootout winning goal to help boost the Everett Silvertips to a 7-6 victory over the Victoria Royals in a high-scoring affair at XFINITY Arena. The ‘Tips hold first place in the U.S Division with a 20-9-3-1 record heading into the WHL holiday break.
The back-and-forth contest featured five lead changes as momentum continually changed hands. Bauml scored three times and added the winning tally in round four of the shootout. Cole MacDonald scored twice and tallied an assist while Patrick Bajkov netted the Silvertips’ fourth goal. Nikita Scherbak recorded three assists to give him 42 points for the season, while Ivan Nikolishin and Dawson Leedahl both added two assists.
The ‘Tips scored two goals less than a minute apart to take a 2-0 lead midway through the first period. Dawson Leedahl and Nikita Scherbak got the puck to Kohl Bauml coming in on the rush to open up scoring for Everett. Scherbak then fed the puck to Cole MacDonald who fired a low shot to the back of the net for the ‘Tips second goal in 45 seconds. The Royals got one back after a rebound went off the pad of Austin Lotz and to the stick of Regan Nagy. With seconds left in the first, Tyler Soy scored for Victoria to tie the game at two heading into the dressing rooms.
Austin Carroll scored on a 5-on-3 powerplay early in the second to give the Royals their first lead of the game. The Silvertips came back and tied the game at three after Cole MacDonald scored his second of the night midway through the game. Shortly after, Jake Mykitiuk fed Patrick Bajkov for a one-timer that gave the Silvertips a 4-3 lead in the second. Shots were 20-14 for Everett after 40 minutes of play.
Scoring continued into the third with five more goals in the final 20 minutes. Soy scored his second of the game for the Royals to tie the game early in the period. Victoria then scored twice with goals in less than two minutes from Chaz Reddekopp and Brandon Fushimi to take a 6-4 lead. Everett got back within one after Kohl Bauml scored his second of the night midway through the frame. The ‘Tips got a 5-on-3 powerplay for a great chance to tie the game, but weren’t able to find the back of the net. Just as it looked like the Royals might hang onto the lead, Bauml scored his third goal off a feed from Stadnyk to tie the game at six late in the third.
Neither team scored in overtime, leaving the game to be decided in a shootout. After Jack Walker scored for Victoria, Carson Stadnyk responded for Everett to keep the game alive on a goal that required video review. After an Austin Lotz save to start round four, it was none other than Kohl Bauml who scored the deciding goal for the ‘Tips to take a 7-6 victory.
Goaltender Austin Lotz (15-6-1-1) turned away 14 of 20 shots during 65 minutes in net. Coleman Vollrath (14-11-2-1) stopped 27 of 33 shots for Victoria. The Silvertips went 0-for-3 on the powerplay while the Royals scored once on four opportunities. Final shots were 34-20 for the Silvertips.
CLICK HERE for Box Score
The Silvertips have the next nine days off during the WHL holiday break before returning to action on Saturday, December 27 with a home matchup against the Vancouver Giants. The ‘Tips will the play eight consecutive road games, including their East Division road swing through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada.
For more information visit www.everettsilvertips.com or call 425-252-5100. To keep up with all the latest team news and information, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
