The Game
This wasn’t the start the Silvertips were looking for to resume the regular season after a week-long hiatus. Everett scored first, but Vancouver scored four straight to take a commanding 4-1 lead and ended up topping the Tips 4-2 Sunday in Vancouver.
Patrick Bajkov scored both of Everett’s goals and Matt Fonteyne had a pair of assists, so it was nice to see some production out of Everett’s second line. However, the normally reliable Everett defense allowed four goals including a go-ahead power play goal in the second period. The Tips continue to struggle on the penalty kill as we noted in our midseason report card.
Carter Hart had 27 saves, but allowed four goals for the third time in the past seven games. He’s played in 32 of Everett’s 33 games this season, more than any other goaltender in the league, so I wonder if fatigue could be a factor. Then again, he’s fresh from a week off, so that shouldn’t really be an issue. Hart played in 30 regular-season games last season.
The Giants are certainly better than their 13-19-3-2 record would indicate and I’m sure playing Everett three consecutive times means there are no surprises for Vancouver. Yet the same should hold true for the Tips, and Everett was unable to capitalize on that familiarity.
It could shape up to be a difficult week for Everett. The Tips play a home-and-home against defending WHL champion Kelowna and finish the four-game week with a road contest at Kamloops.
The Turning Point
Vancouver scored three times in a span of less than three minutes during the second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.
Three Stars
1. Vancouver F Trevor Cox: The overager had two assists for the Giants.
2. Vancouver D Dmitry Osipov: The defender helped contain the Everett offense.
3. Everett F Patrick Bajkov: The Everett forward scored both of the Tips’ goals.
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