TALKING POINTS
What got into Carson Stadnyk at the start of the third period?
Everett found itself trailing 1-0 after two periods, but Stadnyk scored three goals in a span of 3:46 during the first 4:03 of the third to turn the game on a dime. I have no idea what the WHL record is for fastest natural hat trick in the playoffs, but I’ve got to think this is close.
(Edited to add: Thanks to Travis Huntington we know it isn’t the fastest. The WHL record for fastest playoff natural hat trick is 2:39 by Doug Saunders of the Kamloops Junior Oilers in a 10-5 victory at Portland on April 14, 1984. Former Everett coach Mark Ferner happened to be a member of the Junior Oilers at the time.)
They were smart finishes by Stadnyk, too. On the first he banked a shot off the back of Spokane goaltender Garret Hughson from below the goal line. The second saw him find a loose puck in the slot and immediately fire a shot into the corner. Then on the third he had the tiniest of holes to shoot at above Hughson’s shoulder at the near post, yet somehow found it.
Spokane played a physical game throughout Friday’s contest, and after the Tips scored on the power play midway through the third we were sort of transported back to the days of the Tri-City Americans-coached Don Nachbaur teams in the mid 2000s as Spokane went into full intimidation mode. The teams combined for 156 penalty minutes, almost all of which came in the game’s final six minutes when the outcome had already been decided. To give that some perspective, the highest combined penalty-minute total in a game involving Everett this season was 71. Think about that.
One area I highlighted before the series began was the battle between Spokane’s power play and Everett’s penalty kill. The Chiefs were extremely effective on the power play against Everett during the regular season, but the Tips held Spokane to 0-for-4 in this one.
TURNING POINT
One need look no further than Stadnyk for this.
THREE STARS
First star: Stadnyk. Three goals and one assist, it was a magical third period for him.
Second star: Carter Hart, Everett. 22 saves, including a huge stop on a Carter Brooks short-handed breakaway in the second period.
Third star: Liam Stewart, Spokane. One goal, which inevitably brought his father’s hit “Some Guys Have All the Luck” over the P.A.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Ivan Nikolishin, Everett. Two goals, both came on the power play to seal the victory for the Tips.
BOX SCORE
SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Everett 5, Spokane 1 (Everett leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Spokane at Everett, Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3: Everett at Spokane, Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4: Everett at Spokane, April 3, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): Spokane at Everett, April 4, 7:05 p.m.
Game 6 (if necessary): Everett at Spokane, April 7, 7:05 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Spokane at Everett, April 8, 7:05 p.m.
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