RECAP » Baker’s Dozen
EVERETT, Wash. – Nolan Yaremko and Sasha Mutala each logged hat tricks while Brett Leason dished four assists to lead the Tri-City Americans past the Everett Silvertips, 9-4 in the preseason opener at XFINITY Arena on Friday in the Delta Hotels Preseason Classic.
Returning forwards Matt Fonteyne, Patrick Bajkov, and Connor Dewar manufactured a combined five points on the top line for the Silvertips while six different Americans logged multi-point games.
The Silvertips return to play in the preseason tourney on Saturday, hosting the Seattle Thunderbirds at 7:00 p.m. at XFINITY Arena. Tickets are available at www.everettsilvertips.com/preseason.
It took just 16 seconds after the opening puck drop for Patrick Bajkov to stash a backhander past Beck Warm, converting Matt Fonteyne’s feed from behind the net for a 1-0 Tips lead. Nolan Yaremko stormed back for Tri-City with back-to-back goals, first on a broken play at the net with six minutes gone then on a turnover at the left circle with 1:15 remaining for a 2-1 Tri-City lead after a period.
The second period featured a five-goal explosion by both teams, combined, and Tri-City emerged with a 6-2 lead. Patrick Bajkov finished off a nifty feed off the rush at the right post from Matt Fonteyne at 1:05 to tie the game, but Mutala scored his first two goals of the night at 3:17 and 4:10 – first on a deflection at the right post then a tip at the Silvertips net.
Yaremko completed his hat trick at 9:18 on a post-to-post feed by Michael Rasmussen and Mutala buried a wrister off the rush at 15:38 for a 6-2 cushion.
Riley Sutters first preseason goal off a giveaway in the Tri-City zone cut the deficit to 6-3 at 2:28 of the third period, but Parker Aucoin responded 52 seconds later for a four-goal lead.
Jake Christiansen snuck a wrister through traffic for the Tips fourth goal of the night at 6:52 for a 7-4 deficit, but Morgan Geekie capped the game with back-to-back goals just 1:23 apart and closed out the scoring on a one-timer at the left circle with 1:53 to play.
Dorrin Luding, one of five goaltenders on the Tips roster for training camp, made 26 stops. Beck Warm earned the win with 31 saves for Tri-City.
NOTES: The Silvertips scratched Dawson Butt, Conrad Mitchell, Mark Liwiski, Sean Richards, Kyle Walker, Kevin Davis, and goaltenders Danton Belluk, Dustin Wolf, and Carter Hart… Matt Fonteyne, slated to return for his fifth season, recorded a pair of assists.
Opening the Silvertips home schedule, covering 36 games this season at XFINITY Arena, is Opening Night against the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, Sept. 23 (7:05 p.m.), when the first 3,000 fans will receive a collectible Silvertips magnet schedule, presented by Lamoureux Real Estate. All fans will also witness the raising of the Silvertips fifth U.S. Division championship banner to the rafters before the opening puck drop. Season Tickets and Mini-Plan Packages (22-game and 14-game selections) are available for as low as a $50 deposit at www.everettsilvertips.com/season
