EVERETT — Strong, stingy defense has been a hallmark of the Everett Silvertips throughout both of current head coach Kevin Constantine’s two tenures behind the bench, and the 2015-16 Tips have continued that trend.
Everett currently ranks third in the WHL’s Western Conference with 2.44 goals allowed per game. In fact, the Tips have allowed two or fewer goals in their last three games and in four of their previous five contests.
While Montreal Canadiens first-round draftee Noah Juulsen commands most of the attention, the Silvertips rely on a veteran group of blue liners. Overage assistant captain Cole MacDonald is in his fourth full season with the unit, while 19-year-olds Lucas Skrumeda and Tristen Pfeifer, and 18-year-old Kevin Davis also bring considerable experience. Goaltender Carter Hart provides an implacable last line of defense.
“I think right now we’re rolling through six guys and we’re all playing pretty well (defensively),” said Skrumeda. “We’re not scoring as many goals as we’d like (but) we’re not giving up a lot. I think if we keep moving the puck to the forwards it will all come together as the season rolls along here.”
Everett has gone 2-2-0-1 in that five-game span, partially due to an inconsistent offense. The Tips are averaging 2.33 goals per game and have won only one of their last four following Wednesday’s shootout loss to Brandon. Everett hasn’t scored more than two goals in a game since a 5-2 win over Prince Albert Oct. 11.
The Tips are generating 29.2 shots while allowing 32.4 per outing, and Brandon tallied 40 shots to Everett’s 22 Wednesday.
Hart’s numbers are a big reason Everett remains 5-3-0-1 and managed to steal a point in the standings from the Wheat Kings.
The 17-year-old has been particularly impressive during Everett’s last three games. He’s averaging one goal allowed and 31.7 saves per game with a .969 save percentage in that span.
Hart is always quick to defer credit to his defense, but his defense lauds him right back.
“He does everything for us back there,” Skrumeda said. “He comes up with the big saves, he makes all the easy plays, good breakout decisions — he’s just our anchor back there. He keeps us in a lot of hockey games.”
Hart and the Silvertips get another crack at Portland with a home-and-home scheduled for Friday and Sunday with the Winterhawks. The teams have already played one another three times this season following three preseason matchups. Following Sunday, the teams will have played half of their 10 scheduled games for the season.
Suffice to say there aren’t many secrets when the two teams line up opposite one another.
“You just have to take what the schedule gives you,” MacDonald said. “It’s nice to play them a lot because you know what’s going on. With a team like Brandon you don’t really know what they’re going to (do).”
Portland (6-6-0-0) has bounced back from a rough start to win four straight and vault into second place among the U.S. Division teams with 12 points.
The Winterhawks are led offensively by Dominic Turgeon (nine goals, five assists), Rodrigo Abols (four goals, eight assists), Alex Schoenborn (five goals, six assists) and Paul Bittner (three goals, seven assists).
Thursday Portland added overage forward Rihards Bukarts (five goals, four assists) in a trade with Brandon. That means Bukarts, who scored in the Wheat Kings’ win over Everett Wednesday, will face the Tips three straight times.
Friday’s game begins at 7:35 p.m. at Xfinity Arena.
Follow Silvertips writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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