‘Tips Return Home with Wire-to-Wire Win
EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips came out strong offensively with four goals in the first period and added an insurance goal in the third to take a 5-3 victory over the Spokane Chiefs Friday night at XFINITY Arena. The‘Tips have won six of their last seven games following a successful 5-1 road trip to the East Division. Everett has a 27-12-3-1 record overall heading into another important division rival matchup Saturday against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Ben Betker recorded a career-high four assists, one short of Peter Mueller’s team record for assists in a game. Jake Mykitiuk’s first goal as a Silvertip held up as the game-winner, while Dawson Leedahl, Patrick Bajkov, Remi Laurencelle and Matt Fonteyne netted the other Everett goals. Goaltender Carter Hart (9-3-2-0) stopped 27 of 30 shots faced to earn the win.
Six goals in the first period set a fast paced tone for the game, with Everett’s first goal coming just 28 seconds after the puck dropped. Dawson Leedahl got the ‘Tips on the board after he picked up a rebound in front and sent it between the legs of goaltender Tyson Verhelst. A second Silvertips goal by Patrick Bajkov squeaked by to put the home team up by two less than five minutes in. Everett took a penalty minutes later to put the Chiefs on the powerplay, but the ‘Tips would get a third goal shorthanded from Matt Fonteyne before Curtis Miske scored for Spokane to make it a 3-1 game. It was then the Chiefs turn to pick up a shorthanded goal courtesy of Markson Bechtold to bring Spokane within one. Jake Mykitiuk scored towards the end of the first to give the ‘Tips a 4-2 lead heading into the second period.
There was no scoring in the first half of the second frame, but the Silvertips jumped out to a 20-12 lead in shots at the midway point. Even with Everett carrying a lot of the momentum, Adam Helewka scored for the Chiefs to give us a one goal game heading into the dressing room. Shots were 24-18 for the Silvertips after 40 minutes of play.
The Silvertips went on an early powerplay in the third and Remi Laurencelle scored on the very next shift to extend Everett’s lead to two. With no penalties or goals throughout the rest of the third, Spokane pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker with over three minutes left in the game. Play remained in the ‘Tips zone for the remaining minutes of the game, but the ‘Tips blocked numerous shots and kept the puck out of the net to hold on for a 5-3 victory. Both teams ended the game with 30 shots on goal.
Spokane goaltender Tyson Verhelst (8-5-0-0) turned away 10 of 14 shots during 20 minutes in net before Garrett Hughson came in and stopped 15 of 16 he faced in 36 minutes in net. The Silvertips were 1 for 4 on the powerplay while the Chiefs went 1 for 2.
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The ‘Tips are on home ice again Saturday as the rival Seattle Thunderbirds come calling for a 7:05 pm matchup on “Local Heroes Night”. Everett is then back on the road for four games in five days next week in Prince George and Kelowna ahead of their only other home game this month on Jan. 30 vs. Vancouver.
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.
