Nick Patterson
TALKING POINTS
This was an unusual one. I’ve gotten so used to the white knucklers that go down to the last second, that a game comfortably in hand in the third period seems odd. But that was the case for Everett tonight, which took a 4-1 lead into the third and was never threatened in the final 20 minutes.
Just how rare have these games been? In the second half of the season Everett has played 27 games, in the previous 26, just two were not either tied or one-goal games in the third period. 17 of the 26 games ended up decided by a single goal, and the Tips hadn’t won by more than one goal since beating Tri-City 6-3 on Jan. 10.
So what sparked the comfortable win?
– First, the power play. Everett’s power play has struggled of late, getting shut out in the previous for games and going 3-for-27 (11.1 percent) since Feb. 8. But the Tips were 3-for-6 tonight as their execution was better.
– Second, the fourth line. The trio of Remi Laurencelle, Logan Aasman and Brayden Low has played well the past two weeks, and they may have had their best game tonight. They grinded for pucks, won battles and scored Everett’s first goal, which negated Prince Albert’s opener.
– Third, Prince Albert’s road weariness: This was the final game of the Raiders’ five-game swing through the U.S. Division, and it showed. Prince Albert didn’t have much left in the tank in the third.
With the victory, Everett moved back into sixth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Vancouver with one game in hand.
TURNING POINT
In the second period Prince Albert took four straight penalties and Everett cashed in twice, turning a slim 2-1 lead into a commanding 4-1 advantage.
THREE STARS
First star: Aasman. One assist, that line was excellent.
Second star: Low. One goal, that line was excellent.
Third star: Laurencelle. One assist, that line was excellent.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Noah Juulsen, Everett. One goal, his first in the Dub, and he also played physical.
BOX SCORE
