Frustrated Tips lose Game 4, trail 3-1
EVERETT – Josh Winquist scored twice, but the Everett Silvertips fell behind in the first period and eventually succumbed 11-4 to the Portland Winterhawks as Game 4 of their opening-round WHL playoff series turned ugly Friday night at Comcast Arena. Everett now trails the Winterhawks three games to one and will look to extend the series Saturday night in Game 5 in Portland.
Recording five goals over four games, Josh Winquist has now has scored in every game of the series. Cole MacDonald scored his first career playoff goal and point in the game and Reid Petryk also tallied for Everett in the third period. The Silvertips surrendered the game’s first four goals in the first period and never could stem Portland’s offensive tide on the way to a lopsided defeat.
Ty Rattie opened scoring in the first after his shot ricocheted off the skate of goaltender Austin Lotz to give Portland the lead. The Winterhawks were given a 5-on-3 powerplay minutes later, where Lotz made two spectacular diving saves before Brendan Leipsic batted in the third rebound. Chase De Leo scored on the remaining powerplay time to give the Hawks a three goal lead before Leipsic’s second of the period made it 4-0. Josh Winquist got Everett on the board late in the period, coming into the ‘Hawks zone and firing a shot that beat Mac Carruth over the glove hand. Portland’s Tyler Wotherspoon then scored his first of the series to give the Winterhawks a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Winquist scored his second of the game in the middle frame, wristing a bullet past Carruth during a 5-on-3 powerplay for his fifth of the series. The ‘Hawks got two more goals from Ty Rattie, who completed his hat trick, and another from Wotherspoon in the period to take an 8-2 lead into the third.
After Joey Baker scored his first goal of the series midway through the third period, the ‘Tips responded a minute later as Carson Stadnyk broke into the zone and fed Cole MacDonald for a redirection goal past Brendan Burke. Taylor Leier then scored for Portland, but Reid Petryk answered again for the ‘Tips with a nice wrist shot over Burke’s shoulder. Josh Hanson tacked on another powerplay goal to end the game as frustrations continually boiled over in a heated period..
Shots on goal were 38-23 in favor of the Hawks through 60 minutes of play. Austin Lotz (1-3) took the loss after making 21 saves through two periods, while Daniel Cotton stopped six third-period shots in relief. Mac Carruth (3-1) earned the win with 16 saves, while Brendan Burke stopped three of five shots over the last half of the third period.
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Now facing a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series, the Silvertips travel to Portland’s Memorial Coliseum looking to keep their season alive in Game 5 Saturday night at 7:00 pm. A Silvertips victory would extend the series to a Game 6 at 7:05 pm Monday night at Comcast Arena.
Should the Silvertips win Game 5 to extend their season, tickets for Game 6 will go on sale after Saturday night’s game. CLICK HERE to buy online or call 425-252-5100 for more information. To keep up with all the latest team news and information, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
