Everett 3, Tri-City 2 (OT)

Published 10:55 pm Wednesday, December 5, 2007

TALKING POINTS

This was a critical game for Everett. Coming off a disasterous weekend against Seattle and Vancouver, the Tips needed to play a lot better to erase the ugly memories from the weekend, and they also needed to get some kind of result against a strong Tri-City team to blunt a five-game losing skid. Mission accomplished on both fronts, though it took a wonder blast from Graham Potuer in OT to produce the result.

The most notable difference in the Tips from my viewpoint was the shooting. Everett seemed intent on releasing shots quickly and trying to put them on net, as opposed to finding the perfect play, and it worked as all three Everett goals came as a result of quick shots. The Tips had 33 shots on goal after having just 25 combined in the previous two games.

As for Tri-City, I just marvel at how much the Americans have transformed. During Everett’s first few years in the league Tri-City was always a team of big, tough guys who tried to win through punishing physical play. Now the Americans are a bunch of quick little guys who skate rings around you (undrafted forwards Kruise Reddick and Johnny Lazo were some finds by Americans GM Bob Tory). Full credit to the Americans for adjusting their style and finding a winning formula.

TURNING POINT

The real turning point of this game came when Tri-City killed off a three-minute Everett five-on-three penalty that spanned the second and third periods. Had the Tips taken advantage of that, they would have killed the game off. Instead it remained 2-1, Tri-City scored shortly after, and the Americans were the better team from there. Although Everett ended up with the win, that sequence earned Tri-City a point.

HIT OF THE DAY

I had a little chuckle when Everett’s Tyler Skauge hit teammate Vitali Karamnov flush and sent him tumbling as the Tips went for a line change. Yep, the Tips have had their issues with line changes this season, though this one was harmless (and Skauge doesn’t really deserve the jab as he played a good game).

THREE STARS

First star: Zach Hamill, Everett. Earned it on guts alone as he came back to play after having his nose broken by a high stick.

Second star: Dane Crowley, Everett. Man, did he ever rip that shot when he scored his goal.

Third star: Chet Pickard, Tri-City. Was solid in goal for Tri-City, though he didn’t have to make a lot of difficult saves.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Colton Yellow Horn, Tri-City. Hands down the best player on the ice tonight, and was an absolute demon on the penalty kill, especially during the five-on-three.

LINEUP NOTES

For Everett, tonight saw the reconstitution of the Hamill-Gendur-Beach line as the Tips tried to generate some more offense. Forwards Matt Ius and Tyler Eskesen were sidelined because of concussions, and defenseman Jeff Regier was a healthy scratch.

For Tri-City, second-leading goal scorer Taylor Procyshen was also scratched because of a concussion. Forward Jason Gardiner and defenseman Lane Werboski were healthy scratches. Also, head coach Don Nachbaur was away attending to family business, with Tory taking the reins behind the bench.