PORTLAND, Ore. — Noah Juulsen wasted little time in showing just how much the Everett Silvertips missed him.
Juulsen, the star defenseman who returned Friday from the Montreal Canadiens training camp, scored the go-ahead goal while Devon Skoleski found the net twice as the Tips knocked off Portland 3-1 before 9,159 fans at the Moda Center on Saturday.
Saturday was not just Juulsen’s return from Montreal — it was the first time he’s skated with the Silvertips this season. The 18-year-old sustained a concussion prior to the beginning of Everett training camp and did not participate.
The Tips (2-1-0-0) bounced back from a disappointing 5-1 loss at Prince George Sunday by scoring three unanswered goals against Portland. The Winterhawks, who eliminated Everett in the second round of last year’s playoffs remain winless at 0-3-0-0.
Overager Remi Laurencelle set up the go-ahead goal when won a faceoff and played the puck to Juulsen, whose slapshot from the top of the left circle gave Everett its first lead of the game at 17:09 in the second.
The rookie Skoleski provided the rest of the offense with a game-tying goal in the first period and an insurance tally in the third.
Latvian import Rodrigo Abols gave the Winterhawks a 1-0 lead with an unassisted goal at 5:33 in the first period. The goal came on Portland’s first power-play opportunity.
Skoleski tied it up with a backhand at 8:00 in the first with assists to Jake Christiansen and Sean Mallonee. It was the first WHL goal of Skoleski’s career and the first WHL points for all three players.
Skoleski’s second goal, which came at 5:11 in the third, was the Tips’ first power-play goal of the season. Skoleski’s shot from the right circle was assisted by Cole MacDonald and Patrick Bajkov.
Goaltender Carter Hart showed flashes of the brilliance he displayed in Everett’s season-opening shutout victory at Prince George. The 17-year-old netminder recorded 34 saves as the Tips killed four of Portland’s five power play chances.
The physical contest featured 18 penalties called with nine going to each side.
Everett returns to action Saturday when it plays host to Spokane at 7:05 at Xfinity Arena.
Everett 3, Portland 1
Everett 1 1 1 — 3
Portland 1 0 0 — 1
1st Period—1, Portland, Abols 1 5:33. 2, Everett, Skoleski 1 (Christiansen, Mallonee), 8:00. Penalties—McKenzie Por (boarding), 1:42; Fonteyne Evt (hooking), 3:29; Laurencelle Evt (hooking), 10:54; Davis Evt (roughing), 12:45; Bittner Por (unsportsmanlike cnd., roughing), 12:45; Heinrich Por (roughing), 19:46; Juulsen Evt (roughing), 20:00; Dougherty Por (roughing), 20:00.
2nd Period—3, Everett, Juulsen 1 (Laurencelle), 17:09. Penalties—Hill Por (roughing), 2:47; Skrumeda Evt (roughing), 5:39; Juulsen Evt (hooking), 11:21; Skrumeda Evt (major-fighting), 12:23; Bittner Por (major-fighting), 12:23.
3rd Period—4, Everett, Skoleski 2 (MacDonald, Bajkov), 5:11 (PP). Penalties—Iverson Por (cross checking), 3:28; Skoleski Evt (tripping), 7:30; Jones Por (hooking), 18:08; Bajkov Evt (slashing), 18:54.
Shots on Goal—Everett 10-9-8-27. Portland 12-11-12-35.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 1/6; Portland 0/4.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 2-1-0-0 (35 shots-34 saves). Portland, Hill 0-1-0-0 (27 shots-24 saves).
A—9,159
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