Recap: Americans Get Past Tips in Game 2
EVERETT, Wash. – Maxwell James broke a tie game in the third period with his first goal of the postseason to help the Tri-City Americans sneak past the Everett Silvertips, 5-3 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Championship before 6,401 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday night.
With the Tips’ loss against the Americans this evening, the series is now tied 1-1 for the third consecutive round in the Silvertips postseason. Matt Fonteyne, Patrick Bajkov, and Garrett Pilon each netted a goal on the Silvertips side. The Tips recovered their power play for a 2-of-4 effort, including two tallies in the opening period.
The Silvertips will battle the Americans for game 3 in Kennewick on Monday, April 23 at 7:05 PM PT (Fox Sports 1380 / WHL Live). Game 5 tickets for Saturday, Apr. 28 (7:05pm) in downtown Everett are now available at http://everettsilvertips.com/playoffs.
ROUND 3: EVERETT vs TRI-CITY (Series tied, 1-1) COVERAGE
GAME 1: at EVERETT 3 – Tri-City 2
GAME 2: Tri-City 5 – at Everett 3
GAME 3: at Tri-City | Mon., Apr. 23 – 7:05pm (Toyota Center) Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App
GAME 4: at Tri-City | Thurs., Apr. 26 – 7:05pm (Toyota Center) Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App
GAME 5: at EVERETT | Sat., Apr. 28 – 7:05pm (AOTW Arena) Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App
GAME 6: at Tri-City | Mon., Apr. 30 — 7:05pm (Toyota Center) ** Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App
GAME 7: at EVERETT | Tues., May 1 – 7:05pm (AOTW Arena) ** Fox Sports 1380 / FM 95.3 / Tips App
** If necessary
The first half of the first was all Silvertips, outshooting Tri-City 14-1 in the first several minutes. Everett got the game’s first power play as Michael Rasmussen went off for high sticking at 6:02. Matt Fonteyne got the easy tap-in goal at 7:34, a rebound chiseled from Connor Dewar to put the Tips on the board and make it 1-0. The top power play unit did a tremendous job of cycling the puck, working back to Kevin Davis for a point blast to the net. Parker AuCoin was left unmarked at the left post and snuck a loose puck past Carter Hart to tie the game at 12:29. After the goal, Tri-City took two back to back penalties giving Everett 5-on-3 for 1:12. Everett made Tri-City pay as Patrick Bajkov made it 2-1 as he tapped in Kevin Davis’ rebound at 14:37 on the power play to make it 2-1. Ondrej Vala took a penalty to end the man advantage for Everett but the penalty kill was exceptional. The Tips outshot Tri-City, 20-9.
Tri-City regrouped in the second period as they had substantial amount of possession throughout. The only penalty of the period went to Riley Sutter, but the Tips continued to be excellent on the penalty kill and were able to keep the score 2-1. Tri-City tied the game at 12:02 with a goal from Jordan Topping, finishing a feed to the net by Isaac Johnson. Tri-City had a scary 4-on-1 opportunity but Carter Hart was able to make a terrific save to keep the game tied and turned away a follow up opportunity by Morgan Geekie.
Everett had an early power play in the third as Nolan Yaremko went off for roughing but Everett was unable to get a good set-up for the go ahead goal. Everett did an excellent job on defense as they held Tri-City to only one shot halfway through the third period. But AuCoin got his second of the night at 9:41 to give the Americans their first lead of the series. The excitement for the Americans did not last long as 1:06 later, Garrett Pilon scored his 9th of the playoffs to tie the game back up at 3-3 as he cruised into the Americans zone and unleashed a snap shot past Patrick Dea.
Unfortunately the tie did not last as Maxwell James helped the Americans regain the lead as he drove the net from the left wing while drawing a delayed penalty call for a 4-3 cushion, 1:04 after Pilon tied the game. Carter Hart exited the net with 1:20 left to give Tips 6-on-5 for one final push to tie the game. The Americans hit the empty net with 22 seconds left in third to make it 5-3 on Michael Rasmussen’s 12th goal of the playoffs.
Notes: Silvertips scratches included Dawson Butt, Jameson Murray, Luke Ormsby, Kyle Walker and Ty Westgard … the Tips have won nine of 13 series in their playoff history when tied, 1-1 … the Tips outshot Tri-City, 40-27 … the Tips held Tri-City to an 0-of-3 effort on the power play.
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