RECAP » Thunderbirds 2 – Silvertips 1
KENT, Wash.– Thomas Milic made 32 saves while Jeremy Hanzel’s third period goal stood as the game winner, helping the Seattle Thunderbirds to sneak by the Everett Silvertips, 2-1 at accesso ShoWare Center in WHL action on Wednesday night.
The Silvertips, suffering their first loss in 388 days, fell to 5-1 on the season and had their three game winning streak in Kent snapped in the losing cause, despite Dustin Wolf’s third star effort with 36 stops.
UP NEXT: The Silvertips and Thunderbirds meet in a rematch on Friday, 7:05 p.m. (KRKO/WHL Live) in downtown Everett. Viewing packages remain on sale at watch.chl.ca. Play-by-play “Voice of the Tips” Mike Benton and color analyst Justin Morrison will have pre-game coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
In a physical game that had Seattle racing out with a 10-1 shots edge in the first period, Wolf stood ground with a big save on Lucas Ciona which eventually turned momentum back in the Silvertips favor, who outshot Seattle 8-2 over the final eight minutes.
In the second period, Ethan Regnier’s third goal of the season put the Silvertips ahead, 1-0 when he beat Milic with a snap shot from the left circle with 1:50 remaining. But the Silvertips fell to a 1-1 tie on Conner Roulette’s power play goal to a half open net from the left circle, and Ciona found Hanzel behind the defense for a 2-1 lead with 9:52 remaining.
The Tips best chance to answer came on a snap shot by Regnier in the last three minutes while Cole Fonstad narrowly missed a deflection at the net in the final minute.
3 STARS OF THE GAME
- Jeremy Hanzel (SEA)
- Thomas Milic (SEA)
- Dustin Wolf (EVT)
GAME NOTES: Silvertips scratches included Zach Ashton, Brady Van Herk, Brendan Hunchak, and Evan May … the Tips earned a 37-30 edge in face-offs for the game … Seeley’s assist gave him six points in his first six games … the two teams last met in the final game before the pandemic stopped the 2019-20 season, Mar. 7 in a 3-2 Tips victory … the Tips fell to 88-64-21 head-to-head against Seattle.
ABOUT THE SILVERTIPS AND THE NHL
A total of 19 players have suited up in an Everett Silvertips jersey and advanced to play in the National Hockey League, since the Silvertips joined the WHL in 2003-04. Entering this season, the Silvertips have elevated 27 players to be selected by teams in the NHL Entry Draft, including eight over the previous three seasons. By the end of the 2019-20 season, all three Silvertips in the 20-year old category earned NHL entry level contracts: Bryce Kindopp (Anaheim), Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia), and Jake Christiansen (Columbus). The Seattle Kraken, an expansion franchise scheduled to play 30 miles away from Everett at Climate Pledge Arena, will make their NHL debut in the 2021-22 season.
Follow the Silvertips: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat (evt_silvertips)
