PORTLAND — Skyler McKenzie of the Portland Winterhawks sent the teddy bears pouring onto the ice less than three minutes into the game.
He wasn’t done.
The Portland forward scored twice more as the Winterhawks defeated the Everett Silvertips 5-2 before 10,095 fans on Teddy Bear Toss night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The U.S. Division-leading Silvertips (21-4-5-0, 47 points) lost in regulation for just the second time in their last 18 contests. Portland (18-13-1-0, 41 points) has now won three straight and nine of 11.
The Winterhawks also snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Tips dating back to last season.
McKenzie’s third goal came on the power play just 50 seconds into the third period. The hats littered the ice as Portland increased its lead to 5-2.
The Winterhawks scored three unanswered goals in the second period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead through two.
Keegan Iverson tied it at 6:20 with a wrist shot, and Joachim Blichfeld tallied less than two minutes later for the 3-2 lead. McKenzie added some insurance with a short-handed goal at 16:54. It was the sixth short-handed goal Portland has tallied this year.
Everett’s Matt Fonteyne had previously broken a 1-1 tie just 30 seconds into the second period on the power play. Kevin Davis’ shot bounced off the end boards to Fonteyne at the post and he back-handed the shot past Cole Kehler for a 2-1 advantage.
McKenzie scored just 2:31 into the opening period and the teddy bears rained down onto the ice. It was the quickest teddy bear goal scored in franchise history.
Everett’s Patrick Bajkov continued his torrid start to the season with his 16th goal when he potted a rebound at 5:35 to tie the game 1-1.
Silvertips backup goaltender Mario Petit had 33 saves as Portland tallied 38 shots. Petit will see the bulk of the minutes for the next month as starter Carter Hart is away at Hockey Canada’s World Juniors selection camp, along with Everett blueliner Noah Juulsen.
Kehler saved 39 shots to earn the victory.
Dominic Zwerger assisted both of Everett’s goals and now has 21 assists on the campaign.
McKenzie added an assist while Iverson had three assists as both players finished with four points. Blichfield also added an assist to finish with two points.
Everett was 1-for-6 on the power play while Portland was 1-for-3.
The Tips have a quick turnaround as they play host to the Spokane Chiefs at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Xfinity Arena.
Winterhawks 5, Silvertips 2
Everett110—2
Portland131—5
1st Period—1, Portland, McKenzie 18 (Glass, Iverson), 2:31. 2, Everett, Bajkov 16 (Skrumeda, Zwerger), 5:35. Penalties—Quigley Por (checking from behind), 12:50; Glass Por (tripping), 19:37.
2nd Period—3, Everett, Fonteyne 7 (Davis, Zwerger), 0:30 (PP). 4, Portland, Iverson 13 (Jones, McKenzie), 6:20. 5, Portland, Blichfeld 11 (Veloso), 8:17. 6, Portland, McKenzie 19 (Iverson, De Jong), 16:54 (SH). Penalties—Onyebuchi Evt (interference), 1:05; Christiansen Evt (roughing), 10:56; Overhardt Por (roughing), 10:56; Hughes Por (tripping), 12:22; Bajkov Evt (holding), 13:09; MacEachern Por (delay of game), 15:53; Onyebuchi Evt (tripping), 19:46.
3rd Period—7, Portland, McKenzie 20 (Blichfeld, Iverson), 0:50 (PP). Penalties—Clayton Por (holding), 3:21; Overhardt Por (slashing), 9:46.
Shots on Goal—Everett 14-9-18-41. Portland 9-18-11-38.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 1 / 6; Portland 1 / 3.
Goalies—Everett, Petit 4-1-1-0 (38 shots-33 saves). Portland, Kehler 15-8-0-0 (41 shots-39 saves).
A—10,095
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