Benched Beach returns to score game-winner for Tips

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, February 17, 2007

EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips coaching staff decided to send Kyle Beach a message.

Unhappy with a penalty he took early in the game, the coaches left Beach in the locker room when the second period began, punishment meant to be a wake-up call.

Consider that message received loud and clear.

Beach made a victorious return, scoring the game-winning goal in the third period, and the Silvertips defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-2 Saturday night at the Everett Events Center.

Beach’s goal 3 minutes, 59 seconds into the third broke a 2-2 tie, and the Tips held on against a Lethbridge team that kept them on their heels all night.

“Taking that penalty and then sitting down for a bit really made me start thinking,” Beach said. “There’s only one way I could make it up to the boys and that was to score the game-winner. Fortunately it happened, and I’ll take it.”

The goal was Beach’s second of the game. Dan Gendur also scored and Zach Hamill added two assists for Everett (46-9-0-2). Hamill’s assists give him a new Silvertips franchise record for points in a season with 77. John Lammers set the previous record of 75 last season.

David Reekie had a strong game in goal for the Tips, making 27 saves.

Jesse Craige and Zach Boychuk scored, and Justin Leclerc made 18 saves for Lethbridge (28-27-2-3), which controlled play for much of the night. Lethbridge’s power play was particularly effective as it picked apart Everett’s vaunted penalty kill with its rapid puck movement. Both Hurricane goals came on the power play.

“The most disappointing thing is the guys worked hard for most of the game and we came away empty-handed,” Lethbridge assistant coach Matt Kabayama said. “At this point in the season we’re in a dogfight for a playoff spot and we need the points. As happy as we are with the effort the guys put in, we would have liked to have seen some fruits for our labors. But if we play like this we’re going to like our results most nights.”

Much like in Friday’s 4-3 shootout victory over a struggling Kelowna team, Everett didn’t resemble the top-ranked team in the entire Canadian Hockey League. With injuries on defense and a flu bug running through the rest of the team – star center Peter Mueller was unable to play in the third period because of it – the Tips appeared a step slow all night.

But one thing Everett can call upon, even when they’re not playing at their best, is the type of offensive inspiration that can win you a game. It was Beach who provided that Saturday, though not before landing in the doghouse.

Everett had just begun a power play late in the first period when Beach took a roughing penalty after the whistle, nullifying the advantage. Constantine responded by benching Beach for the first five mintues of the second period.

But Beach redeemed himself in the third. Hamill’s pinpoint pass released Beach up the middle for a breakaway. Beach made a move to his backhand and lifted the puck over Leclerc to give the Tips the lead for good.

“That’s Kyle,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “He’s taking too many penalties after the whistle, so we tried to send a little bit of a message that you’ve got to stop eventually. But the beautiful thing about him is he comes back and scores the winning goal. I admire that characteristic in him, that he can take his dose of discipline and still come back and make a big-time play like he did.”

Everett’s victory came despite its sluggishness and lack of discipline. The Tips were in penalty trouble all night, giving the Hurricanes nine power plays while getting just five themselves.

“I liked the way we gutted it out in the third period,” Constantine said. “We had to fight them off. I don’t think we’re playing great hockey right now, but both (Friday) night and tonight we found ways to win. If you’re a good team you have to find ways to win even if things aren’t going exactly the way you want them to go.”

Slap shots: Everett was once again short-handed on defense as Jesse Zetariuk (thigh), Graham Potuer (wrist) and Mike Alexander (concussion) were all scratched with injuries. The Tips called up 1991-born defenseman Jeff Regier to fill in. Regier is expected to be with the team again tonight in Chilliwack. … Also out for Everett was left wing Ondrej Fiala with what was described as a lower-body injury. … Lethbridge was without power forward Dwight King, who was rested because of bumps and bruises. … Lethbridge’s Adam Chorneyko was awarded a penalty shot 7:47 into the game, but put his shot wide.

At Everett Events Center

Lethbridge110-2

Everett201-3

First Period-1, Lethbridge, Craige 9 (Wright, Boychuk), 9:21 (pp). 2, Everett, Gendur 18 (Harty), 10:19. 3, Everett, Beach 26 (Hamill, Gendur), 12:33. Penalties-Matlock, Lethbridge (hooking), 3:08; Gutierrez, Everett (interference), 3:32; Lamb, Lethbridge (boarding), 4:59; Alic, Everett (interference), 8:22; Alic, Everett (roughing), 14:25; Kudelka, Lethbridge (holding), 15:41; Beach, Everett (roughing), 16:31; R. King, Lethbridge (interference), 18:47.

Second Period-4, Lethbridge, Boychuk 24 (Bailey, Fadden), 9:02 (pp). Penalties-Vartovnik, Everett (boarding), 7:27; Alic, Everett (tripping), 13:15; Everett bench (unsportsmanlike conduct, served by Beach), 16:07; Lethbridge bench (too many men, served by Chorneyko), 18:26; Crowley, Everett (interference), 18:26.

Third Period-5, Everett, Beach 27 (Hamill, Fransoo), 3:59. Penalties-Hogg, Lethbridge (elbowing), 6:11; Harty, Everett (delay of game), 9:55; Beach, Everett (delay of game), 13:14.

Shots on goal-Lethbridge 11-12-6-29. Everett 8-7-6-21. Power-play opportunities-Lethbridge 2 of 9. Everett 0 of 5.

Goalies-Lethbridge, Leclerc 15-16-1-2 (21 shots, 18 saves). Everett, Reekie 19-6-0-0 (29 shots, 27 saves).

A-7,421.