New era begins with loss
Published 11:22 pm Friday, September 21, 2007
So. What to make of that? Everett opened its season with about as un-Silvertip-like a game as I’ve ever seen. The Tips lost 6-5 to Tri-City, and the airtight defense that was a hallmark of Everett’s style the previous four seasons under Kevin Constantine was nowhere to be seen. Everett’s defense made bad mistakes all night, goaltender Leland Irving was not himself, and the Tips blew a 5-4 third-period lead because of penalties taken at really bad times. If it wasn’t for the fact that Everett scored goals, that one could be categorized a disaster.
But then, it was also the first game of the season. Irving and defenseman Taylor Ellington both looked like players who had been gone for lengthy periods, and I’m sure they’ll both improve their play quickly. And Everett did score. There’s a lot of cleaning up to do, but the Tips deserve a pass for now.
Anyway, I figured I’d try doing boxes like I did during last season’s playoffs on the blog after games. Is that something people would find interesting that doesn’t make the paper?
Turning point
Everett led 5-4 in the third period when Brennan Sonne took a checking-from-behind penalty at 10:26 to give the Americans a five-on-three power play. Tri-City tied it just after the five-on-three expired, then scored the winner just after another five-on-three expired.
Hit of the day
I didn’t decided to do this until after the game had started, so I wasn’t paying attention to specific hits. I’ll get this in the future
Three stars
First star: Erik Felde, Tri-City. Took advantage of Everett defensive mistakes to score both his goals.
Second star: Shaun Vey, Tri-City. Scored the game winner and also made a nice play to set up one of Felde’s goals.
Third star: Dan Gendur, Everett. Had a goal and two asists and looks as though he’ll be a capable replacement for Peter Mueller at the point on the power play.
My honorable mention: Jesse Burt, Everett. One heck of a second effort to score the goal that put the Tips ahead in the third period.
Scratches
For Everett: Goaltender David Reekie is out with mononucleosis. Forwards Peter Mueller and Ondrej Fiala and defenseman Dane Crowley are away at NHL camps. Forwards Zach Hamill, Tyler Skauge, Tyler Eskesen, Carter Smith and Eric English and defensemen Eddie Friesen and Chris de la Lande were healthy scratches.
For Tri-City: Forward Colton Yellow Horn is away at an NHL camp. Defensemen Jarrett Toll (ankle) and Kevin Kraus (hip) and forward Colan Jackson (concussion) were injured. Forward JAson Gardiner and defenseman Mason Wilgosh were healthy scratches.
