TALKING POINTS
This is a rebuilding season for the Silvertips. One of the tenants of rebuilding is that younger players are given more opportunities than they would on a contending team, which theoretically speeds up their development. Tonight that played out as it was a pair of rookies who have paid their dues who did the business for the Tips.
Both the 17-year-old Jordyn Boyd and the 16-year-old Ryan Chynoweth have spent the majority of the season getting the occasional shift on the third or fourth lines, and even sat out their share of games as healthy scratches. But after a lackluster first period Everett coach Mark Ferner started giving key minutes to Boyd and Chynoweth, putting them on a line with leading scorer Josh Birkholz. The pair delivered in a big way. Boyd, who came into the game with four goals in 39 games, scored twice to pull Everett out of a 3-1 deficit. Chynoweth had a perfect feed on the second of those goals, and then he scored on an audacious spin-o-rama move in the shootout for the winner. It was just Everett’s second victory in 10 shootout attempts this season.
Chynoweth wasn’t the only hero in the shootout for Everett. Kohl Bauml just squeezed a shot through Jackson Whistle’s five-hole on a do-or-die attempt to extend the shootout. And goaltender Kent Simpson, who played yet another strong game, made three big stops in the shootout.
With that the four-way race for the Western Conference’s final two playoff spots tightened even further. Seattle lost to Portland this afternoon, and Prince George beat Victoria. Therefore, Seattle and Victoria are tied for seventh with 42 points, Everett is in ninth with 41, and Prince George is right behind with 40. Everett and Seattle have 14 games remaining, Victoria has 13, Prince George has 15. Does it get any more tense than that?
TURNING POINT
It seemed like it was Vancovuer’s game when Jordan Martinook scored his second of the game early in the second period to give the Giants a 3-1 lead. However, the Tips received a power play shortly after, with Boyd and Chynoweth getting rare PP time. Boyd collected a loose puck behind the net, circled into the slot and rifled a shot through Vancouver goaltender Jackson Whistle from a tight angle, getting Everett back into it.
HIT OF THE DAY
After Simpson saved Vancouver’s final shootout attempt to end it, a fan in the second row of section 117 apparently got a little over-exuberant in his celebrations, pounding one of the glass panels and causing it to shatter.
THREE STARS
First star: Boyd. Two goals, took full advantage of his increased ice time.
Second star: Martinook. Two goals and an assist, strong on the puck.
Third star: Simpson. 38 saves, including some big ones in the third period and OT.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Chynoweth. One assist and lots of guts for pulling off that spin move in the shootout.
BOX SCORE
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