Everett Wins Lone Meeting Against Saskatoon
The Everett Silvertips defeated the Saskatoon Blades 4-3 on Wednesday night, October 24th, inside of Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center. Shane Harper scored the game winning goal with just over one minute remaining in front of the 4,755 fans in attendance for the Western Hockey League match-up. Tonight was the only regular season meeting between these two teams as the Silvertips improve their record to 6-6 with 12 points in the standings.
Everett opened up the scoring early when Dan Gendur backhanded a shot from the top of the circles that Saskatoon starting goaltender Garrett Zemlak never saw. The puck snuck just inside the right post at 2:56 of the first period with the primary assist going to Kyle Beach and the secondary going to Graham Potuer – his first point of a two point night. That second point for Potuer came in the waning moments of the first 20-minutes.
A failed clearing attempt by the Blades landed on Potuer’s stick and he released a shot from the blue line at the right point. The puck went off of Zemlak’s glove and into the net at 18:14. The goal came on just the fifth Silvertips shot and that resulted in Braden Holtby being substituted in for Zemlak. However, before the game reached its halfway mark, Saskatoon was back in the mix.
Travis Toomey scored at 3:00 of the second period to get the visiting team on the board. That was followed up just minutes later at 8:20 by a game-tying goal off the stick of Justin McCrae. The even scoreboard didn’t last long though as Dane Crowley scored on a shot similar to that of Potuer’s. Crowley released the puck from the blue line at the right point and Holtby missed it with his glove hand resulting in an unassisted, go ahead goal for the Silvertips at 9:10.
Everett held the lead for most of the third period thanks in part to the goaltending work of Leland Irving. However, at 14:40, Walker Wintoneak scored for Saskatoon on their seventh and final power play of the night setting up the final scenario of the game. With the clock ticking down, Taylor Ellington fed an outlet pass to Jordan Mistelbacher in the neutral zone who then got the puck to Harper’s stick. Harper proceeded down the left wing side while attempting to fend off the Saskatoon defense. The Everett forward carried the puck below the left circle and slightly behind the goal line before cutting to the front of the net with his defender in tow. Harper reached out and swept the puck around Holtby and into the far corner of the net at 18:56 for the victory.
The Silvertips will remain at home for their next game this Friday night, October 26th, as the Brandon Wheat Kings come to town for the only match-up between the two teams this regular season. Game time inside of Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center is set for 7:35 p.m. The following night will be the team’s first stop in Kennewick, Wash. to take on the Tri-City Americans at 7:00 p.m. inside the Toyota Center. Following the game the Silvertips will continue on to the province of Alberta to play out their Central Division road trip.
Silvertips Box Score
Graham Potuer (1) 1G, 1A
Dane Crowley (2) 1G
Dan Gendur (6) 1G
Shane Harper (3) 1G
Kyle Beach 1A
Taylor Ellington 1A
Jordan Mistelbacher 1A
Leland Irving (6-5) 17/20
Starting Line-up: Leland Irving (G), Dane Crowley (D), Taylor Ellington (D),
Lukas Vartovnik (LW), Zack Dailey (C), Brennan Sonne (RW)
Scoring: Saskatoon 3 (0-2-1) ; Everett 4 (2-1-1)
Shots On Goal: Saskatoon 20 (8-9-3); Everett 36 (5-15-16)
Power Plays: Saskatoon 1/7 – 10 SOG; Everett 0/5 – 8 SOG
Attendance: 4,755
3 Stars
1. Dane Crowley
2. Taylor Ellington
3. Braden Holtby (Sas)
