EVERETT — The phrase “Next Man Up” more commonly emanates from the lips of football players, but on Friday that phrase applied to Everett Silvertips goalie Mario Petit.
The backup netminder saved all 29 shots he faced as the Tips won the first game of their best-of-seven Western Hockey League first-round playoff matchup against the Portland Winterhawks 3-0 before 3,094 fans Friday at Xfinity Arena.
Petit, who played in just 15 games during the regular season and started just nine, had been pressed into service with star goalie Carter Hart out with a lower-body injury. Petit adds this victory to the 3-2 overtime win he backstopped in Portland on March 8.
Everett captain Dawson Leedahl was the offensive star as he tallied two goals while playing just his third game since breaking his hand Feb. 6 at Seattle. His second goal, a redirect of tic-tac-toe feed from Carson Stadnyk and Kevin Davis, pushed Everett’s lead to 3-0 at 4:44 in the final period.
It was the most decisive of Everett’s six victories over Portland including both the regular and postseasons. The final four regular-season games were all 3-2 decisions with Everett claiming three of them en route to a 5-5 regular-season mark against the Winterhawks.
With the intensity ramped up to the postseason level each team had five power plays. All 10-man advantages came up empty.
The teams were scoreless through the opening period. Brandon Ralph broke the deadlock when he skated into the high slot from the right circle and fired a wrist shot over Adin Hill’s left shoulder at 14:52 in the second. The go-ahead goal came promptly after the Winterhawks killed a 5-on-3 Everett power play.
That turned out to be the only goal Petit and the Tips would need, but Everett wasn’t done scoring.
Leedahl made it 2-0 at 18:13 when he walked in from the right circle, paused until directly in front of the crease, and flicked it over Hill’s left shoulder.
Tempers flared early and the first period hit a sluggish patch at 5:15 when a quick succession of penalties for both teams disrupted the flow.
Neither team capitalized its opportunities and the teams went into the first intermission tied 0-0. Brian King had the best chance for Everett, but Portland goaltender Adin Hill deflected King’s shot off the post with three minutes to go in the stanza. Hill also had a sprawling glove save off a point-blank shot to deny the Tips.
Hill finished with 48 saves in the losing effort.
Stadnyk assisted both of Leedahl’s goals. Everett outshot Portland 51-29 for the game including a 22-5 advantage in the second period when it took the lead for good.
The series continues Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. at Xfinity Arena.
Notes
Before the game, the Tips recalled 16-year-old defenseman Montana Onyebuchi from the Eastman Selects of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.
Silvertips 3, Winterhawks 0
Portland 0 0 0 — 0
Everett 0 2 1 — 3
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Leedahl Evt (charging), 5:15; Jones Por (roughing, spearing, spearing), 7:41; Leedahl Evt (inter. on goaltender), 7:41; Stadnyk Evt (roughing), 7:41; Khomenko Evt (inter. on goaltender), 8:05.
2nd Period—1, Everett, Ralph 1 (Davis, Martin), 14:52. 2, Everett, Leedahl 1 (Stadnyk), 18:13. Penalties—Abols Por (roughing), 3:41; Overhardt Por (slashing), 11:58; Dougherty Por (roughing), 12:48; Heinrich Por (cross checking), 12:48; Millar Evt (roughing), 12:48; Ralph Evt (charging), 15:13.
3rd Period—3, Everett, Leedahl 2 (Stadnyk, Davis), 4:49. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (interference), 6:59; Ralph Evt (tripping), 9:20; Hughes Por (holding), 17:26.
Shots on Goal—Portland 12-5-12-29. Everett 17-22-12-51.
Power Play Opportunities—Portland 0 / 5; Everett 0 / 5.
Goalies—Portland, Hill 0-1-0-0 (51 shots-48 saves). Everett, Petit 1-0-0-0 (29 shots-29 saves).
A—3,094
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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