Silvertips blank Royals 2-0 to grab a 2-1 series lead

VICTORIA, B.C. — Special teams were the biggest factor for the Everett Silvertips and Victoria Royals in the first two games of their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.

Namely it was the man advantage as both teams scored four power-play goals in the first two games of the series.

But Everett’s league-best regular-season penalty kill showed up Tuesday and its power play continued to click as the Tips scored two power-play goals in a 2-0 win over the Royals before 4,790 fans at Save-On-Foods Centre.

“It was an ugly hockey game,” Everett assistant coach Mitch Love said in a postgame interview on 1380 KRKO-AM. “I thought it was a team that came home in front of a decent crowd and I thought (Victoria) didn’t really have a ton of rhythm, but I’ll be honest with you I didn’t think our group had a ton of rhythm tonight. We were lucky to find a way on our power play to go 2-for-6 and that was a nice thing to see, because we’re going to need that.”

After allowing Victoria a 4-for-7 showing on the power play in the weekend split at Xfinity Arena, Everett killed all three Royals man advantages Tuesday.

Goaltender Carter Hart recorded 25 saves for his second career postseason shutout. Vancouver Island native Patrick Bajkov had a goal and an assist, and linemate Dominic Zwerger added two helpers as the top-seeded Silvertips took a 2-1 series lead.

Victoria, already missing defenseman Scott Walford, was forced to play without forward Jack Walker on Tuesday. Walker had two power-play goals and four points in the first two games of the series before missing Game 3 due to an undisclosed injury.

“(Walker) brings a ton of speed and he’s a pro-like player,” Love said. “I’m sure that’s huge loss for their hockey team along with Walford who hasn’t played the last couple nights. I’m sure we’ll see them again at some point in this series. In playoff hockey guys battle through those things and we gotta be prepared for whoever we’re going to play against on that Royals team because they still have a good hockey club.”

The Tips opened the second period on the power play and capitalized almost immediately when Bajkov took a feed from Kevin Davis and fired a snap shot from the right circle for a 1-0 Everett lead just 22 seconds into the frame.

Everett pushed it to 2-0 with another power-play goal at 17:37 in the second. Bajkov fired a shot from the same spot he scored his first goal, but this time Eetu Tuulola tipped it past Victoria goalie Griffen Outhouse for the goal.

Everett had two short-handed looks during a third-period penalty kill, but neither Connor Dewar or Matt Fonteyne converted.

It didn’t matter as the Tips drew a pair of late penalties and spent the final three minutes of the game on the power play.

Hart faced 13 shots in the third period as the Royals finished with a 25-21 shot advantage.

“I think Victoria is going to be a much better team (Wednesday),” Love said. “I’m sure they don’t want to go down 3-1 headed into our building.”

Game 4 takes place at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Save-On-Foods Centre. The teams are assured of returning to Everett for Game 5 at 7:35 p.m. on Friday at Xfinity Arena.

Silvertips 2, Royals 0

Everett 0 2 0 — 2

Victoria 0 0 0 — 0

1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Hein Evt (tripping), 2:32; Peckford Vic (kneeing), 12:17; Morrison Vic (cross checking), 18:39.

2nd Period—1, Everett, Bajkov 3 (Davis, Zwerger), 0:22 (PP). 2, Everett, Tuulola 1 (Bajkov, Zwerger), 17:37 (PP). Penalties—Irving Evt (major-fighting), 1:55; Folk Vic (major-fighting), 1:55; Hannoun Vic (tripping), 16:14; Skrumeda Evt (interference), 17:47.

3rd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Phillips Vic (interference), 2:12; Zwerger Evt (embellishment), 9:01; Bobylev Vic (interference), 17:00; served by Folk Vic (too many men), 18:20.

Shots on Goal—Everett 8-8-5-21. Victoria 5-7-13-25.

Power Play Opportunities—Everett 2 / 6; Victoria 0 / 3.

Goalies—Everett, Hart (25 shots-25 saves). Victoria, Outhouse (21 shots-19 saves).

A—4,790