BLOG: Tips again hang half-dozen on Hawks to take 2-1 series lead

The Everett Silvertips delivered another impressive performance Tuesday in a 6-2 victory at Portland that gave the Tips a 2-1 series lead in the WHL Western Conference semifinals.

The Tips have now scored a dozen goals (10 of them against top Portland netminder Cole Kehler) in the past two games. Kehler also surrendered two goals in Portland’s 5-2 Game 1 victory, so Everett has scored 12 of its 14 goals in this series against the L.A. Kings prospect who shut out the Tips in the final two regular-season meetings between the teams.

On Tuesday, it once again it was the team that earned the quick start that found itself victorious. Everett jumped on Portland quickly as the Tips built a 3-0 lead in the game’s first 10 minutes. A late first-period goal by Portland’s Dennis Cholowski gave the Winterhawks hope, and a Kieffer Bellows power-play goal in the second period pulled Portland within 3-2.

But Reece Vitelli’s goal on the next shift restore the two-goal advantage.

It is also worth noting that the Winterhawks struggled at home during the regular season. Everett won three of four at VMC while losing its only game at Moda Center during the regular-season series.

Everett’s third line of Bryce Kindopp, Vitelli and Martin Fasko-Rudas came up huge Tuesday. Not only did all three players score a goal, but the goals were particularly timely. Vitelli’s goal restored Everett’s two-goal advantage in the second period, and Fasko-Rudas’s goal gave Everett a three-goal lead in the third. Kindopp scored Everett’s second goal in the opening period and set up the Fasko-Rudas goal.

Carter Hart was outstanding as he saved 40 of Portland’s 42 attempts. The coaching staff took issue with the number of shots afforded the Winterhawks by the official statistician, but head coach Dennis Williams noted how impressive Hart was in the third period as Everett uncharacteristically “sat back” with a two-goal lead.

The Tips surrendered their first power-play goal as Kieffer Bellows solved Hart with a rocket from the point, but Everett continues to lead the special teams battle. The Tips are 6-for-7 on the penalty kill (85.7 percent) and 2-for-6 on the power play (33.3 percent). Portland is 4-for-6 on the penalty kill (66.7 percent) and 1-for-7 on the penalty kill (14.3 percent).

Game 4 is Thursday at Moda Center.

For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.

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