Nick Patterson
TALKING POINTS
The Tips let this one get away.
Everett seemed in control, scoring twice in the third period to take a 5-3 lead. But Regina found the net twice in the final six minutes of regulation to tie it — it was the second time in the game the Pats rallied from a two-goal deficit to knot the score — then won it in overtime.
The Pats earned this victory. Regina played well. The Pats blocked every shot from the point in the first period en route to taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Then Regina forechecked like crazy the final 30 minutes to get back into the game after falling behind. The Tips had as difficult a time as I’ve seen in a long time trying to get out of their own zone, and that forecheck created the turnover that led to Dyson Stevenson’s overtime winner.
That said, if the Tips lose out on a banner or a playoff position or a guarantee by one point, they’ll look back at this game and cringe. Everett really should have closed this one out. Incidentally, this was Everett’s third straight overtime game, with the Tips dropping two of those.
Next up for Everett is Friday’s crunch top-of-the-U.S.-Division showdown with Portland. We’ll see how the Tips respond.
TURNING POINT
With 5:31 remaining in regulation and Everett leading 5-3, Regina’s Dryden Hunt got a step on Everett defenseman Ben Betker. Betker tripped Hunt, but Hunt still managed to get a shot past Everett goaltender Daniel Cotton to the far post from one knee, beginning the final comeback. It was a rough final sequence for Betker, who also took the interference penalty that led to the power-play goal that tied it with 1:09 remaining.
THREE STARS
First star: Tyler Sandhu, Everett. Three goals, his second career hat trick.
Second star: Hunt. Two goals, was tough to push off the puck.
Third star: Joshua Winquist, Everett. Three assists, and he easily could have finished with five or six points.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Stevenson. One goal and two assists, a key component of Regina’s ferocious forecheck.
BOX SCORE
