Hart, Silvertips Blank Thunderbirds in Opener
KENT – 16-year-old goaltender Carter Hart posted his first career shutout and newcomer Graham Millar scored the game’s only goal as the Everett Silvertips defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 1-0 in their 2014-15 regular season opener Saturday night at the ShoWare Center. The win was the first of three straight road games to start the season for the ‘Tips, who play back-to-back games next weekend in Portland before their home opener at XFINITY Arena vs. Kelowna on Oct. 3.
Graham Millar earned the honor of scoring the first goal of the season for Everett less than two minutes into his Silvertips debut. Noah Juulsen and Patrick Bajkov picked up the assists on the only goal of the game. Carter Hart (1-0) earned his first career WHL win and first shutout in only his second career start, turning away all 26 shots he faced on his way to being named the game’s first star.
Everett took the momentum early in Seattle’s home opener, scoring just 1:53 into the contest when Graham Millar redirected a shot from the blue line by Noah Juulsen and past netminder Taran Kozun. The teams exchanged unsuccessful powerplay opportunities before the Thunderbirds created late a 2-on-1 chance, with Hart stoning Sam Mckechnie to preserve Everett’s 1-0 lead.
Emotions increased in the second period, with each team going on the powerplay twice and Dawson Leedahl dropping the gloves in a spirited bout with Seattle’s Keegan Kolesar. Carter Hart continued to frustrate his opponents as he shut down Matthew Barzal on an unmanned scoring chance in front. A scoreless second frame meant the ‘Tips carried a 1-0 lead into the final period of play while Seattle edged Everett 20-17 on the shot clock.
The Silvertips generated only two shots in the third, but allowed only six Thunderbird shots as Everett closed down shooting lanes and blocked shots in front of Hart. Seattle pulled Kozun to add an extra attacker during the final two minutes, but the Everett maintained the one-goal edge and the shutout for Hart before the buzzer sounded to end the game.
Final shots were 26-19 in favor of Seattle, with goaltender Taran Kozun (1-1) stopping 18 shots in net for the Thunderbirds. The Silvertips finished 0 for 5 on the powerplay while holder the T-Birds scoreless on three opportunities.
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The Silvertips will now travel to Portland for a pair of games next weekend at the Moda Center. The ‘Tips and Winterhawks face-off at 7:00 pm Saturday and 5:00 pm on Sunday, with both games being broadcast live on Fox Sports 1380 and streaming video available via WHL Live. Everett opens the home schedule the following weekend, hosting the Kelowna Rockets on Friday, Oct. 3 and the Winterhawks on Saturday, Oct. 4.
For more information call 425-252-5100, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
