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Everett 2, Portland 0
Posted
at
12:01 am
by Nick Patterson
TALKING POINTS
Welcome to the WHL Kent Simpson.
The 16-year-old goaltender, making his first career start, turned away all 28 shots he faced to post the shutout. Oddly enough, the Tips had the same thing happen to them in their previous game when Vancouver's Jamie Tucker shut Everett out 4-0 in his first career start last Saturday. And like Tucker, Simpson had to earn his shutout, particularly during the second period when he was peppered by 17 shots. However, Simpson showed no sign of jitters as he was solid all night.
Let me tell you, this is not the same Portland team from the past two seasons. These guys made Simpson work for his shutout. At times last season the Winter Hawks struggled just to complete passes. That was never a problem tonight. Portland's going to win a lot more games this season than it has the past two.
As for Everett, the Tips may have picked up their first win, but they still look like a team trying to find its legs. The connections aren't quite there yet, and the Tips seemed to tire a bit down the stretch.
Mike Alexander turned out to be the scorer of the first Everett goal at Comcast Arena this season. Not the odds-on favorite for that honor, as it was just his second career WHL goal, the other one coming 19 months ago.
Everett suffered a blow when Matt Ius took an elbow up high from Portland defenseman Travis Ehrhardt late in the second period and had to be helped from the ice. Ehrhardt was given a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct.
TURNING POINT
Less than five minutes into the game Portland appeared to have taken the lead when Brad Ross scored on a breakaway. However, the goal was called off because a fight broke out behind the play before Ross shot. Everett scored a minute later.
HIT OF THE DAY
The aforementioned fight broke out because of the hit Everett's Jordan Mistelbacher put on Collin Reddin, plastering Reddin into the boards adn prompting Ryan Kerr to pick a fight with Mistelbacher.
THREE STARS
First star: Simpson. Congratulations of the first career win and shutout.
Second star: Kurtis Mucha, Portland. Solid in goal, but will probably be disappointed that Alexander's shot got past him.
Third star: Daniel Bartek, Everett. Was menacing in front of goal and along the boards throughout the night.
The Herald's honorable mention: Reddin. This kid's the most skilled player I've seen for Portland in three years.
LINEUP NOTES
Everett welcomed Mistelbacher back into the lineup after he served his suspension for violating team rules. Left wing Tyler Parker has recovered from his ankle sprain, but he was a healthy scratch along with right wing Cameron Abney and defensemen Brenden Stephen and Paul Sohor. Defenseman Taylor Ellington was still in transit from camp with the Vancouver Canucks, left wing Kyle Beach remains with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Portland welcomed Mucha (Phoenix) and Ehrhardt (Detroit) from their NHL camps. Forwards Ryan Andersen (shoulder) and Jason Grecica (knee) and defenseman Scott Gabriel (concussion) are out injured. Defensemen Joe Morrow, Lee Morrow and David Watt and goaltender Keith Hamilton were healthy scratches.
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