Everett 7, Seattle 3
Published 10:53 pm Saturday, September 27, 2008
TALKING POINTS
Well, there’s something you never saw last season. Everett had seven different players score goals tonight. Last season that would have taken a month, since the Tips were so dependent on a select few to provide offense. But the Tips believe they have the horses to spread the wealth more this season, and tonight’s performance indicates they might just be right.
Probably the two most important goals were scored by Markus McCrea and Tyler Maxwell. Yes, they came at the most critical junctures of the game. But more importantly, it was the first WHL goals for a pair of young players the Tips expect to be major contributors down the road. McCrea shrugged off being snakebitten by posts and incredible goaltending during the first three games. Maxwell can rest a little easier after taking a little time to settle.
Tonight I also saw something I’ve never seen before: coincidental goaltender interference penalties. Late in the second period Seattle’s Jim O’Brien ran into Everett goaltender Shayne Barrie at one end, then while play continued the other way during the delayed penalty, Everett’s Byron Froese bowled over Seattle netminder Calvin Pickard.
One comment about Seattle: I think they really need Thomas Hickey back. They really missed their captain and top defenseman tonight, and if he ends up sticking with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings that’s a huge problem for the T-birds.
TURNING POINT
Everett hammered Seattle throughout the first period, but Jacob DeSerres made a string of huge saves and it looked like the T-birds would hold Everett to one first-period goal. However, McCrea fired a bullet past DeSerres with 36.7 seconds remaining in the period to put a stamp on the Tips’ first-period dominance.
HIT OF THE DAY
Everett defenseman Taylor Ellington, fresh from training camp with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, had a number of good hits. The best one came early in the third period when he dumped Jim O’Brien onto his back as they battled for the puck behind the Everett net.
THREE STARS
First star: Daniel Bartek, Everett. A goal and two assists, what an addition he’s turning out to be.
Second star: Zack Dailey, Everett. Two assists, skated hard.
Third star: Prab Rai, Seattle. Scored twice and had several chances to record his hat trick.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Kellan Tochkin, Everett. Two assists, he’s so smart with the puck.
LINEUP NOTES
Everett welcomed Ellington back into the lineup. Ellington missed the first three games of the season while he was at training camp with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. The Tips were without right wing Matthew Ius, who suffered a concussion in Friday night’s 2-0 victory over Portland. Portland defenseman Travis Ehrhardt, who received a major penalty and game misconduct for delivering the blow, was suspended by the league for a period to be determined. Left wing Tyler Parker stepped into his spot, making his WHL debut. Forward Ryan White and defensemen Brenden Stephen, Jeff Regier and Paul Sohor were healthy scratches. Winger Kyle Beach remains in camp with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
In addition to Hickey, Seattle was also without defenseman Jeremy Schappert, who’s out with a shoulder injury. Forwards Chance Lund, Spencer Edwards and Charles Wells were healthy scratches. Defenseman Kaydon Trumbley was reassigned Friday.
