Everett 3, Tri-City 1
Published 10:44 pm Friday, September 12, 2008
TALKING POINTS
Pretty good effort by the Tips tonight. Everett needs rookies to produce this season, so it was good to see a couple more — Cameron Abney and Markus McCrea — find the net tonight. The line of Abney, fellow rookie Ryan White and Jesse Burt really did the heavy lifting for the Tips. Considering that could be consided Everett’s fourth line, it was an encouraging sight for the Tips.
Another encouraging sign was the performance by goaltender Shayne Barrie. Barrie’s been a little shaky this preseason, but he was better tonight. Everett’s already made trades to address the offense (Daniel Bartek) and defense (Shayne Brown). If the goaltending gets squared away, the Tips might surprise a few people.
Kyle Beach showed flashes of returning to his dominating form, though he didn’t hit the scoresheet. He has to make sure he doesn’t try to do too much, though.
TURNING POINT
You couldn’t ask for a better play than when White sent a backhand saucer pass across two defenders on the rush, putting the puck right into the path of Cameron Abney, who just buried his shot. That goal opened the scoring midway through the second period and really set the tone for that line’s play.
HIT OF THE DAY
Right in the opening minutes Burt hammered Brett Plouffe into the boards when the two were chasing the puck in the corner.
THREE STARS (all mine)
First star: White. Made several pretty backhand passes, including the one that set up the opening goal. The rookie seems to be finding his legs.
Second star: Graham Potuer, Everett. Played physical and keep things simple at the back.
Third star: Blair Macaulay, Tri-City. Worked hard and showed he wants the Americans’ final overage spot.
LINEUP NOTES
Everett was missing defenseman Taylor Ellington, who is away at training camp with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, and left wing Tyler Parker, who’s out with an ankle sprain. Defenseman Paul Sohor was a healthy scratch. Bartek and Brown, acquired via trade the previous two days, have yet to arrive in town.
Tri-City has four players away at NHL training camps: goaltender Chet Pickard (Nashville), defensemen Eric Mestery (Washington) and Tyler Schmidt (Minnesota), and forward Kruise Reddick (Tampa Bay). Forwards Mason Wilgosh (knee) and Jordan Messier (back) are out injured. Forwards Spencer Asuchak, Justin Feser and Drew Hoff and goaltender Drew Owsley were healthy scratches.
