Tips Top T-Birds at Tri-City Tourney
KENNEWICK – The Everett Silvertips erased a pair of deficits and scored the game’s last three goals on their way to a 4-2 exhibition win over the Seattle Thunderbirds Friday at the Toyota Center. The victory improved Everett’s preseason record to 2-2 in their first of two appearances in the Red Lion Hotels Pre-Season Tournament hosted by the Tri-City Americans. The ‘Tips play again Saturday morning at 11 am in Kennewick when they face the Kootenay Ice.
Carter Cochrane, Remi Laurencelle, Tyler Sandhu and Matt Fonteyne all lit the lamp for Everett, while six other players contributed assists in a well-rounded scoring effort. Austin Lotz started in goal and stopped 11 of 13 shots in nearly 32 minutes of play. Nik Amundrud then finished the contest by turning aside all 12 shots he faced over the final 28:16.
Seattle struck first just over five minutes into the contest on a goal by 2014 CHL Import Draft pick Alexander True. Getting the game’s first powerplay midway through the period, the ‘Tips responded one second after the opportunity expired as defenseman Carter Cochrane scored to tie the game. Everett successfully killed off a Thunderbirds advantage a few minutes later and the game was even at one through 20 minutes, with the Silvertips holding a 14-7 shot edge.
The T-Birds went back on top 4:50 into the second period with a goal from newcomer Donovan Neuls on their second powerplay of the game. Seattle began closing the shot gap and continued to lead by a goal until the waning minutes of the period, when Remi Laurencelle drew the Silvertips back even off assists from Chris Stockl and Lucas Skrumeda with 2:02 left in the frame. Tyler Sandhu then followed less than one minute later with his first tally of the exhibition season to give Everett its first lead at 3-2 heading into the locker room.
Second-year forward Matt Fonteyne extended the lead at 5:27 of the third period, scoring unassisted to make it 4-2 Silvertips. Seattle would go on to outshoot the ‘Tips 10-6 in the third, but was unable to cut into the lead as Everett finished off its second preseason win.
Final shots were 27-25 in favor of the Silvertips, who were officially 0 for 1 on the powerplay while Seattle finished 1 for 3. Returning starter Taran Kozun played the entire game in net for the Thunderbirds, making 23 saves in defeat.
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The Silvertips conclude their appearance at the Tri-City tournament Saturday morning with an 11 am opening faceoff against the Kootenay Ice of the Eastern Conference. Everett will then finish the exhibition schedule with a home-and-home series against the Thunderbirds, hosting their rivals at 7:35 pm on Friday, Sep. 12 at Comcast Arena and playing the next night at the ShoWare Center in Kent.
For more information call the team office at 425-252-5100, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
