TALKING POINTS
Everett did what it needed to do tonight. It may not have been a vintage Silvertips performance, but it got the two points Everett needed to stay in the race for first place in the U.S. Division and the top seed in the Western Conference.
Everett controlled play most of the way against a depleted Seattle team, but the finishing touch wasn’t quite there. The Tips didn’t put it away until less than seven minutes remained, when Scott MacDonald cleaned up after Dan Iwanski’s shot got through T-birds netminder Michael Salmon.
Tri-City won 4-3 in Spokane, meaning the Americans are still two points ahead of Everett. Tri-City has just one game remaining, Saturday’s home game against Spokane. Everett has two remaining: Saturday at home against Chilliwack, Sunday in Spokane. If the Americans beat Spokane they clinch the title. If they drop any points, Everett must finish ahead of Tri-City as the Americans hold the tiebreaker.
Everett did clinch at least second place in the division and no worse than the No. 3 seed in the west. Spokane can still catch Everett in the standings, but the Tips hold the tiebreaker against the Chiefs. Tonight’s results also rule out any chance of a three-way tie.
Tonight’s game also saw a new franchise record for attendance as 8,613 fans packed Comcast Arena. That topped the mark of 8,606 set against Medicine Hat during the WHL championship series in 2004.
It was odd seeing Seattle’s leading scorer Prab Rai taking shifts on defense. T-birds coach Rob Sumner quipped after the game that Rai no longer took his rests on the bench, he took them on defense.
TURNING POINT
Everett came out sluggish in the second period, allowing Seattle to tie it at 1-1 on the power play. But Everett scored on its next power play, Kellan Tochkin beating Salmon with a shot to the near post, to regain the lead.
HIT OF THE DAY
I didn’t see anyting worth mentioning tonight.
THREE STARS
First star: Ryan Murray, Everett. One assist, hands down the best player on the ice on a night when many of the Tips weren’t at their sharpest.
Second star: Kent Simpson, Everett. 26 saves, the Tips needed a solid effort out of him tonight.
Third star: Salmon. 36 saves, though he probably wants that third goal back.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Iwanski. Two assists, Everett’s first goal was all him.
BOX SCORE
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