SPOKANE — The Everett Silvertips missed an opportunity to build their lead Wednesday night.
Everett couldn’t take advantage of its nearest rival losing, falling 3-1 to the Spokane Chiefs.
Everett, playing a reeling Spokane team that had lost three straight, could have stretched its lead to four points atop the WHL’s U.S. Division as Portland fell to Calgary 5-4 in overtime. Instead, the loss means the Tips’ lead is down to two points over the Winterhawks, who continue to close the gap. Both teams have 11 games remaining.
On Wednesday Everett led 1-0 late in the second period. However, Spokane scored the tying goal in the final seconds of the second. Then the Chiefs dominated the third period, outshooting the Tips 18-5 as Everett hindered its chances by taking penalties.
Calder Brooks had two goals and an assist to lead Spokane (28-27-3-1), which snapped a three-game losing streak. Adam Helewka added an empty-netter with 2.4 seconds remaining, while Garret Hughson earned the win in goal with 23 saves.
Nikita Scherbak scored the lone goal for Everett (36-18-3-4). Austin Lotz made 30 saves in net for the Tips.
It looked as though the Tips would carry the lead into the third, but then Spokane tied it with just 17 seconds remaining in the period. Brooks tipped Evan Fiala’s point shot past Lotz, and after a video review the goal was upheld, making it 1-1.
That goal seemed to turn the tide as the Chiefs controlled the third period. Everett got into penalty trouble, and Spokane made the Tips pay at 7:09. Brooks made a nice move, then fired a shot from the slot past Lotz to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.
Everett wasn’t able to get any semblance of offense going in an effort to tie the score down he stretch, and Spokane clinched it when Helewka scored into an empty net with 2.4 seconds remaining.
Spokane had the puck in the net early in the first period, only for the goal to be waived off. Then Lotz had to make a big save on Liam Stewart’s short-handed breakaway midway through the period. The Tips then had the better chances on the back end of the period, but Hughson made big saves on Ivan Nikoloshin and Patrick Bajkov, then Kohl Bauml hit the post as it remained scoreless going into the second.
Lotz was called upon to bail his defense out twice early in the second period, making big saves on Dominic Zwerger and Keanu Yamamoto. Then the Tips grabbed the lead late in the period. Scherbak outraced the Spokane defense for a loose puck, then scored past Hughson to make it 1-0 at 16 minutes, 55 seconds.
Chiefs 3, Silvertips 1
Everett 0 1 0 — 1
Spokane 0 1 2 — 3
First Period—no goals. Penalties—Helgesen, Spokane (delay of game), 6:38; Laday, Spokane (cross checking), 12:31; Leedahl, Everett (fighting), 17:49; Whittingham, Spokane (fighting), 17:49.
Second Period—1, Everett, Scherbak 25 (Leedahl), 16:55. 2, Spokane, Brooks 17 (Fiala, Ka. Yamamoto), 19:43. Penalties—Pfeifer, Everett (slashing), 9:16.
Third Period—3, Spokane, Brooks 18 (Stewart, Fram), 7:09 (pp). 4, Spokane, Helewka 32 (Brooks), 19:58 (en). Penalties—Scherbak, Everett (slashing), 1:30; Betker, Everett (tripping), 6:06; Juulsen, Everett (slashing), 12:36; Lotz, Everett (roughing), 20:00.
Shots on goal—Everett 10-9-5—24. Spokane 6-9-18—33. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 2. Spokane 1 of 4.
Goalies—Everett, Lotz 24-14-1-3 (33 shots, 30 saves). Spokane, Hughson 17-20-3-1 (24 shots, 23 saves).
A—3,531.
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