SPOKANE — It’s official. The Everett Silvertips’ drought in Spokane will surpass four years.
Everett lost its 18th straight game at Spokane Arena on Sunday evening, falling 4-2 to the Spokane Chiefs.
The last time Everett won in Spokane was Feb. 24, 2010. The Tips play one more game in Spokane this season, but it isn’t until March 12, meaning the four-year mark will have passed.
Mitch Holmberg scored twice, while Dominic Zwerger, Marcus Messier and Mike Aviani also scored for the Chiefs (34-20-3-2). Eric Williams earned the win in goal with 34 saves.
Joshua Winquist, Brayden Low and Cole MacDonald found the net for Everett (28-23-7-1), which was unable to turn a 37-25 shot advantage into a victory.
Everett gave a WHL debut to 15-year-old goaltender Carter Hart. Hart finished with 20 saves.
Everett’s has had no luck in Spokane, and the breaks did not go the Tips’ way in the third period Sunday.
It began with Spokane leading 2-1 when an apparent Spokane icing was waived off. The Tips slowed down anticipating the icing call, but instead the Chiefs got the puck and Messier scored to make it 3-1 at 8:11.
Everett got back within one at 9:08 when Low tipped in MacDonald’s shot from the point. But unfortunate timing for the Tips gave Spokane the chance that made it 4-2 at 11:34. The Chiefs cleared the zone just as a Spokane player exited the penalty box, creating a two-on-one. Aviani ended up scoring on the rebound.
The Tips again got back within one when MacDonald’s slap shot from the point found the corner at 17:35 with Hart pulled for an extra attacker. Everett then kept the puck in the Spokane zone for an extended period looking for the equalizer, but MacDonald’s stick snapped on a shot attempt, allowing the Chiefs to break free and Holmberg to score into the empty net with 38 seconds remaining.
Everett got off to a great start as the Tips scored 1:19 into the game on their first shot on goal. Winquist took a pass off the boards heading into the offensive zone, had an angle on goal, then scored past Williams to get Everett off to an early 1-0 lead.
But Spokane answered just 30 seconds later, also scoring on its first shot on goal. Zwerger was in the slot when he spun and fired a shot past Hart to knot it at 1-1.
Everett outshot Spokane 14-6 in the second period, but it was the Chiefs who got the goal to go ahead 2-1. Spokane used good puck movement on the power play to open up a free chance for Holmberg in front at 17:19.
Chiefs 5, Silvertips 3
Everett 1 0 2 — 3
Spokane 1 1 3 — 5
First Period—1, Everett, Winquist 38 (Mueller, Khaira), 1:19. 2, Spokane, Zwerger 13 (Yamamoto), 1:49. Penalties—Cardiff, Spokane (checking from behind), 8:19; Low, Everett (checking from behind), 10:56.
Second Period—3, Spokane, Holmberg 50 (Aviani, Helewka), 17:19 (pp). Penalties—Betker, Everett (high sticking), 6:51; Gow, Spokane (hooking), 11:19; Stadnyk, Everett (high sticking), 15:40; Rayman, Spokane (roughing), 18:59.
Third Period—4, Spokane, Messier 8 (Holmberg, Helewka), 8:11. 5, Everett, Low 6 (Betker, MacDonald), 9:08. 6, Spokane, Aviani 32 (Helewka), 11:34. 7, Everett, MacDonald 2 (Winquist, Mueller), 17:35. 8, Spokane, Holmberg 51 (Aviani), 19:22 (en). Penalties—Helewka, Spokane (tripping), 9:27.
Shots on goal—Everett 9-14-14—37. Spokane 8-6-11—25. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 4. Spokane 1 of 3.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 0-1-0-0 (24 shots, 20 saves). Spokane, Williams 29-13-2-1 (37 shots, 34 saves).
A—5,018.
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