T-birds end Silvertips’ streak of OT success

KENT — You had to figure Everett’s streak of overtime success would end sometime.

The Silvertips entered Saturday’s game at Seattle a perfect 6-0 in games decided during the new 3-on-3 overtime session. However, as Everett head coach Kevin Constantine told his assistants following regulation, the Tips had yet to face the Thunderbirds’ Mathew Barzal.

The New York Islanders’ first-round pick took the puck all the way from his own defensive zone and potted the game-winner 35 seconds into overtime as Seattle defeated Everett 3-2 before 4,049 fans at the ShoWare Center.

“That was unfortunately prophetic,” Constantine said. “(Barzal) is one of the best open-ice players in the league and there you go — that’s evidence tonight.”

It was the third straight overtime game for Everett and the Tips’ fourth overtime contest in their last five games. Everett (23-12-1-2, 49 points) remained in first place in the U.S. Division while second-place Seattle (22-14-3-0, 47 points) moved within one regulation victory.

Barzal scored twice with Ryan Gropp picking up assists on each as the T-Birds defeated the Tips for the first time this season.

“That’s a great player making a great move,” Everett forward Matt Fonteyne said. “Obviously we have to watch those guys, but he is a good player and he can make those moves.”

The Tips didn’t register a shot in overtime. Gropp, who assisted all three T-Birds goals, secured the puck along the boards in Seattle’s defensive zone and fed Barzal in front of the T-Birds’ net. Barzal did the rest, splitting the Everett defenders and putting the puck past Carter Hart’s right shoulder.

“We’re happy with the way 3-on-3 has been going and we’re happy with the way we battled back,” Fonteyne said. “It was bound to happen sometime so we’ll just have to regroup and go back out there the next time we have 3-on-3.”

Trailing 2-1 through two periods, Fonteyne scored the equalizer for Everett at 1:47 in the third period on a top shelf wrister from the left circle.

“We’re having to come from behind a little bit too much in the third, but it’s nice to see us have the resiliency to keep after it in these games,” Constantine said. “It got us a point.”

Seattle scored twice in the opening period, and the score remained 2-0 until the final minute of the second. Remi Laurencelle put the Tips on the board with a backhanded shot past Seattle goaltender Landon Bow at 19:48 in the second off assists from Dawson Leedahl and Carson Stadnyk.

The T-Birds took a 1-0 lead at 7:10 in the opening period. Hart saved Jared Hauf’s initial shot, but the puck bounced right to Keegan Kolesar in the slot, who fired a wrister past Hart for his 18th goal of the season.

Barzal added Seattle’s second goal when he beat Hart and knocked the water bottle off the top of the net for a 2-0 lead at 14:41 in the first.

Hart and the Tips seemed to settle down following Seattle’s early advantage. Hart finished with 24 saves while suffering his first loss since Dec. 27.

“I thought (Hart) looked sharper the longer the game went on,” Constantine said. “I don’t know if it was bus legs or what you’d say, but I didn’t think the first period was very good. The second period was better, but a lot of that had to do with goaltending. They had some good chances in the second. They had more good chances than us, but Carter was really good in the second.”

Bow finished with 29 saves in his second game since being acquired last week from the Swift Current Broncos. Everett out-shot Seattle 31-27.

Everett completes its challenging weekend Sunday when it faces the Spokane Chiefs beginning at 5 p.m. at Spokane Arena.

Thunderbirds 3, Silvertips 2 (OT)

Everett 0 1 1 0 —2

Seattle 2 0 0 1 —3

1st Period—1, Seattle, Kolesar 18 (Hauf, Gropp), 7:10. 2, Seattle, Barzal 10 (Gropp, Bear), 14:41. Penalties—No Penalties

2nd Period—3, Everett, Laurencelle 23 (Leedahl, Stadnyk), 19:48. Penalties—Dewar Evt (slashing), 5:30; Bajkov Evt (boarding), 14:51.

3rd Period—4, Everett, Fonteyne 10 (Bajkov, Davis), 1:47. Penalties—Wedman Sea (hooking), 7:52; Allbee Sea (holding), 15:13.

OT Period—5, Seattle, Barzal 11 (Gropp), 0:35. Penalties—No Penalties

Shots on Goal—Everett 10-14-7-0-31. Seattle 10-12-4-1-27.

Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0 / 2; Seattle 0 / 2.

Goalies—Everett, Hart 22-11-1-2 (27 shots-24 saves). Seattle, Bow 11-14-4-0 (31 shots-29 saves).