Laurencelle leads Silvertips to 4-0 win over Swift Current

EVERETT — Remi Laurencelle scored two goals, including the overtime game-winner in the Everett Silvertips’ home opener nearly a month ago.

Then game a 10-game goal drought.

But Laurencelle made up for it Saturday as he scored twice to pace the Tips to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos before 5,197 fans at Xfinity Arena.

“I think it’s more of a mental thing,” Laurencelle said. “You have to try and not worry about it. Obviously it sucks, but it happens once in a while during the season. Thankfully mine came early and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”

Laurencelle added a goal in Friday’s 5-2 win over Spokane. The three-goal weekend propelled him back into the team lead for goals (five) and tie for the lead in points (11).

It was the second consecutive victory for the Silvertips (10-5-0-1, 21 points), who remain in third place in the U.S. Division by virtue of Spokane’s victory over Kelowna

Saturday. Swift Current slipped to 8-10-2-0.

“It was our first test of playing three games in four nights and you never know,” head coach Kevin Constantine said. “That’s hard. That’s fatiguing, so we didn’t know how we were going to react to that. We started well. We were pretty consistent throughout the game. Like last night we were very engaged in the whole process.”

Everett also received a stellar effort at goaltender from Carter Hart. The 17-year-old stopped all 23 shots sent his way for his third shutout of the season.

Hart took a puck to the upper body while making a save in the second period. It temporarily drove him to the ice, but he remained in the game after he was looked at by a trainer.

The Tips got all they needed just three minutes in. At 3:13 in the first, Laurencelle took a pass from Dawson Leedahl, sliced between two defenders in the slot, and fired the puck past Swift Current goaltender Travis Child.

“It’s a lot easier that’s for sure, because when you get that first goal a little bit of momentum comes your way,” Laurencelle said. “You always want to be in front.”

Leedahl added the second goal seven seconds later as his shot from the left circle went over Child’s left shoulder. Carson Stadnyk earned his second assist of the game on the goal.

The seven seconds between goals was one second off the franchise record set by Everett last season.

Everett also improved to 8-1-0-1 when scoring first.

“It’s always big, but you can’t go for a lead at the expense of playing the game the right way,” Constantine said. “What you want is to be really into it from the beginning of the game. And then if you’re really into it more often than not you’ll find a way to get that lead.”

Laurencelle added an exclamation point to the Tips’ evening with a power play goal at 13:33 in the third. From the top of the right circle, Devon Skoleski fed Laurencelle at the left side of the crease and the overager put it past Child.

Skoleski completed the scoring with 49 seconds to play as Everett out-shot Swift Current 35-23.

The Silvertips embark on a four-game road trip against the WHL Central Division Tuesday with a game against the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, B.C., before heading to Alberta for three games.

“It could be confidence or it could be our downfall,” Laurencelle said. “I think we have to not worry about it. Obviously when you win two games, some teams — you’ve seen us — sometimes you let back after a few of those games. I think right now we have to worry about playing the same game we played tonight.”

Follow Silvertips writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.

Silvertips 4, Broncos 0

Swift Current 0 0 0 — 0

Everett 2 0 2 — 4

1st Period—1, Everett, Laurencelle 4 (Leedahl, Stadnyk), 3:13. 2, Everett, Leedahl 4 (Stadnyk), 3:20. Penalties-Martin S.c (high sticking), 4:02; Spencer S.c (cross checking), 9:33; Khomenko Evt (embellishment), 9:33; Lajoie S.c (tripping), 17:55.

2nd Period—No Scoring.Penalties-Skoleski Evt (too many men), 1:37.

3rd Period—3, Everett, Laurencelle 5 (Skoleski, Davis), 13:33 (PP). 4, Everett, Skoleski 4 (Pfeifer), 19:10. Penalties-Pfeifer Evt (charging), 6:25; Jensen S.c (holding), 11:44.

Shots on Goal—Swift Current 8-10-5-23. Everett 10-14-11-35.

Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 0/2; Everett 1/3.

Goalies—Swift Current, Child 2-3-0-0 (35 shots-31 saves). Everett, Hart 10-5-0-1 (23 shots-23 saves).

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