Herald staff
SWIFT CURRENT, Saskatchewan — This time the Everett Silvertips made the two-goal lead hold up.
Everett built an early lead and held on as the Tips defeated the Swift Current Broncos 3-1 Wednesday night.
The Tips had two-goal leads in each of their previous two games during their six-game road trip through the WHL’s East Division, only to squander both before losing in regulation. Wednesday was set up for a similar scenario after Everett scored the game’s first two goals, then saw the Broncos close within one. But this time the Tips held on.
Kohl Bauml scored two goals for Everett (3-7-0-1), including the late empty-netter that clinched the victory. Josh Winquist also scored and Ryan Murray had three assists for the Tips, who improved to 2-2 on the road trip with two games remaining.
Daniel Cotton, receiving his fourth straight start in goal for Everett, earned the win with 28 saves.
Chance Lund scored the lone goal for Swift Current (4-3-3-1). Eetu Laurikainen made 27 saves in net for the Broncos.
Everett got itself into penalty trouble in the first period, but the Tips flipped the script by opening the scoring at 2 minutes, 32 seconds while short-handed. Winquist intercepted the puck and put a backhander past Laurikainen to make it 1-0.
The Tips doubled their lead at 18:15. Good puck movement opened up a shooting lane for Mueller, and although Laurikainen made the save, Bauml was on the doorstep to tuck home the rebound and make it 2-0.
Swift Current got one goal back in the second when Lund put home a rebound to make it 2-1 at 7:21.
It was white-knuckle time for the Tips as they faced the possibility of giving up two-goal leads in three consecutive games. But Everett limited Swift Current’s chances the rest of the way, and Bauml put it away with 51 seconds remaining.
Silvertips 3, Broncos 1
Everett 2 0 1—3
Swift Current 0 1 0—1
First Period—1, Everett, Winquist 5 (Murray), 2:32 (sh). 2, Everett, Bauml 3 (Mueller, Murray), 18:15. Penalties—Cox, Everett (tripping), 2:18; Walters, Everett (holding), 8:27; Walters, Everett (delay of game), 19:40.
Second Period—3, Swift Current, Lund 3 (Lowry, Gordon), 7:21. Penalties—Walters, Everett (fighting), 13:18; Nedomlel, Swift Current (fighting), 13:18.
Third Period—4, Everett, Bauml 4 (Petryk, Murray), 19:09 (en). Penalties—Walters, Everett (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:53; Cave, Swift Current (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:53.
Shots on goal—Everett 14-8-8—30. Swift Current 11-10-8—29. Power-play opportunities—Everett 0 of 0. Swift Current 0 of 3.
Goalies—Everett, Cotton 2-2-0-0 (29 shots, 28 saves). Swift Current, Laurikainen 4-2-2-1 (30 shots, 27 saves).
A—2,013.
