Everett 4, Spokane 2

Published 11:01 pm Saturday, January 19, 2008

TALKING POINTS

Well, the big dust-up that many envisioned following the Kyle Beach-Chris Bruton incident Wednesday never materialized, though the game was physical and there were a few flash points. Instead Everett scored early and often on the power play to take control.

The Tips definitely had the benefit of the calls tonight. At one point Everett had eight power plays to none for Spokane, a ratio I can’t remember ever seeing before. The Tips generally earned the ones in the first period, but a couple of the calls early in the second seemed a little light. Then the Chiefs took a couple bad ones later in the second, creating the discrepancy. It eventually got a little closer as the game ended 10-5 in favor of Everett, but I can understand if Chiefs fans had objections.

Tonight’s head scratcher: After two periods Everett had eight power plays to none for Spokane, yet when the officials came onto the ice for the third they still got booed.

TURNING POINT

Everett found the power-play magic in the first period, scoring on all three of its chances to take a 3-0 lead and head off the ice to a standing ovation.

HIT OF THE DAY

A lot of really good hits out there tonight. I guess I’ll single out Everett’s Tyler Kieffer for when he steamrolled David Rutherford midway through the first period.

THREE STARS

First star: Clayton Bauer, Everett. Congratulations on the first career WHL hat trick.

Second star: Dan Gendur, Everett. Continues to pile up the points with another goal and two more assists.

Third star: Jonathan Harty, Everett. Two assists and solid play in his own end.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Jesse Burt, Everett. Gets some rare power-play time and ends up setting up Everett’s first goal, to go along with his usualhustle.

LINEUP NOTES

Everett again played without Beach because of a concussion. The Tips made two changes from Friday, bringing forward Tyler Skauge and defenseman Kieffer back into the lineup, replacing defensemen Jeff Regier and Chris de la Lande, who were healthy scratches. Forward Tyler Eskesen was also a healthy scratch.

Spokane also played without it’s leading scorer, left wing Drayson Bowman, who suffered a shoulder injury during Friday’s 5-4 shootout victory at Seattle. Bruton was serving the final game of his two-game suspension for the punchout between him and Beach. Defenseman Jace Coyle was a healthy scratch.