WHL Roundup: Silvertips double Americans in U.S. Division battle

The lone game on the WHL’s Thursday schedule featured a U.S. Division battle between the top two teams south of the border as the Tri-City Americans visited the Everett Silvertips.

Finnish import Eetu Tuulola scored twice, including a nifty toe drag that split Beck Warm in two, as the Silvertips maintained their cushion atop the U.S. Division, defeating the Americans by a 4-2 margin.

Spencer Gerth opened the scoring in the first period for Tri-City, before Morgan Geekie knotted the affair with his fifth tally of the season.

Tuulola gave the hosts the lead 7:21 into the second period before Riley Sutter registered his seventh of the campaign to put Everett ahead 3-1 with 4:59 to play in the middle period.

Only 3:46 into the third, Tuulola gave the ‘Tips a commanding three-goal advantage when he scored his third of the season.

Nolan Yaremko got Tri-City back within striking distance late in the period, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback as the Silvertips held on for a 4-2 victory, courtesy a 21-save performance from Carter Hart. The 18-year-old product of Sherwood Park, Alta., collected his seventh triumph of the season.

The win boosted the Silvertips to 10-2-2-0 on the season, good enough for 22 points to remain well above the pack in the U.S. Division with a five-point cushion. The loss dropped the Ams to 8-6-1-0, who sit second in the division with 17 points.

TIPS TV / ? @tuuski23, your #1 ? pic.twitter.com/0zTJ1riL8r

— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 28, 2016