Tips ice Americans

Published 9:00 pm Friday, November 21, 2003

EVERETT — Now that’s more like it.

Two days after having one of their worst starts to a game this season, the Everett Silvertips turned in one of their best, defeating the Tri-City Americans 2-0 before a crowd of 5,902 Friday night in a Western Hockey League contest at the Everett Events Center.

Marc Desloges and Devin Wilson scored goals in the first 6 minutes, 43 seconds of the game, and Jeff Harvey made 27 saves for his second shutout in a week as Everett (9-9-3-1) defeated the U.S. Division-leading Americans (12-11-3-1) for the second time in three meetings this season.

And the Silvertips did a complete u-turn from their 4-2 loss Wednesday to Spokane, when Everett fell behind 3-0 in the first 15 minutes.

"Our motivation tonight was 100 percent the way we started the other day," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said.

"The first 10 minutes we got those two goals and it was a complete reverse from the other night," Constantine added. "I wouldn’t change what I said the other night, the way you start is more important than the way you finish. If you can get the first goal, especially two, it makes it very hard for the other team."

Harvey was the poster child for that turnaround. Harvey struggled in the first period Wednesday, giving up one soft goal in particular. But he was on his game Friday, particularly in the third period when the Silvertips, trying to hold onto the lead, were outshot 10-3.

"I thought the team played extremely well defensively in front of me and limited their opportunities to the outside," Harvey said. "Any time you can do that it makes it a lot easier for the goaltender. It was a well-played game overall by our hockey club."

Everett went ahead on the first shot of the game. The Tips earned an early power play when Tri-City’s Kirk Meaver was called for a hold-stick penalty 1:40 into the game. Before the penalty could even be announced over the public address system, Everett had the lead. Ivan Baranka wound up a slap shot from the blue line that Desloges, camped out in front, tipped over Tri-City goalie Carey Price for his third goal of the season, making it 1-0 at 1:45.

The Tips went ahead 2-0 at 6:43. A Tri-City turnover in the Everett zone led to a three-on-one break for the Tips. Great passing between Jeff Schmidt and Mark Kress opened up the far post, where Wilson was able to put it away into an empty net for his first goal of the year.

"I think they were mentally focused from the first shift, rather than skating through your first two or three shifts and being half there and waiting for something negative to happen before you decide to get going," Constantine said about his players. "I just think we were much more focused in the beginning."

Everett finished with 10 power-play chances to three for the Americans.

Tri-City goalie Carey Price made 23 saves in a losing effort.

Slap shots: Everett defenseman Cody Thoring, who was filling in at forward Friday, was slammed head first into the boards early in the third period and had to be helped from the ice. Constantine said Thoring probably suffered a concussion. … Everett left wing Tyler Dietrich will have to wait another game before making his return. During the week, it was indicated that Dietrich, who has been out two months with a shoulder injury, might be in the lineup Friday. However, the 19-year-old who was one of Everett’s standouts during the preseason, was scratched. … Tri-City rookie forward Marcus Jonasen, the Americans’ third-leading scorer with 11 goals and nine assist, was scratched because of an ankle injury. … Tri-City came into the game with 28 points. The Americans didn’t earn their 28th point last season until Jan. 31.