The Game
Wednesday was about Carter Hart doing Carter Hart things. He was outstanding without being particularly flashy, as is typical for him. He showed he was in the zone early with six saves in the game’s first three minutes (thanks to a Seattle Thunderbirds power play) and stopped a total of 18 shots in the first period while his teammates built him a 2-0 lead.
This was a very different T-Birds team from the one Everett defeated 3-2 on Oct. 15. The recent returns of Mathew Barzal (from the New York Islanders) and Keegan Kolesar (from injury) have buoyed Seattle to 7-2-1 mark in its 10 games prior to Wednesday, and a 5-1-1 mark in its previous seven games.
Riley Sutter figured in Everett’s first two goals for his first point since Nov. 12 at Spokane and his first goal since Nov. 5 against Portland. He now has nine goals and is tied with Patrick Bajkov for second on the team.
? ? STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WATCH ? ?@sutts_14 goal pic.twitter.com/2p7BitIrCh
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) November 24, 2016
Orrin Centazzo showed what head coach Kevin Constantine called a “flash” of brilliance to salt the game way early in the third. He simply out-raced a Seattle defenseman to the puck at the Seattle blue line and scored from a tough angle. Centazzo is listed at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, but he has impressive speed and is evidently an excellent baseball player as well, per Constantine after the game.
Also of note: Bradly Goethals made his WHL debut Wednesday. Goethals, a prolific scorer at the midget level last year, was acquired a month ago from the Brandon Wheat Kings. He didn’t play many shifts, but looked comfortable on the ice and had one good scoring look in the second period.
Additional Notes (that didn’t make the game story)
First, the Tips reassigned defenseman Mackenzie Dwyer to the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Dwyer, who overcame a gruesome ACL tear last season, did not register a point in 13 games this season.
Second, Everett dropped to No. 7 in the CHL poll – not that anyone in the organization gives it any credence:
#CHL Top-10 Rankings Week 10: 1-PG, 2-REG, 3-LDN, 4-ER, 5-ROU, 6-SHA, 7-EVT, 8-WSR, 9-MH, 10-BLB. HM: OSH, SNB, MJ pic.twitter.com/mE2g6nLEfS
— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) November 23, 2016
Finally, take a gander at the shirt Graham Millar sported tonight in the press box:
Hey @gwenstefani this (rivalry) is bananas. ??? pic.twitter.com/Oj3yCSsC1F
— Jesse Geleynse (@JesseGeleynse) November 24, 2016
The Turning Point
Everett killing the game’s first penalty less than three minutes in established that Hart was on his game and set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
Three Stars
1. Everett G Carter Hart: The Philadelphia Flyers prospect saves 37 shots for his second shutout of the season.
2. Everett F Riley Sutter: The second-year forward had a goal and an assist.
3. Everett D Kevin Davis: The veteran blueliner assisted the game’s first goal.
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