Everett 8, Kelowna 6
Published 11:11 pm Friday, October 17, 2008
TALKING POINTS
All I can say is “Wow!”
I’ve been covering the Silvertips since day one and never have I witnessed anything quite like what I saw tonight. I’ve seen the Tips dig out of deep holes to win in dramatic fashion. Heck, I saw a miracle first-hand in the 2004 playoffs against Kelowna. But I’ve never seen a situation like this, where the game swung so wildly and so often in one period. The Cliff’s Notes version is that Everett led 4-3 going into the third, Kelowna scored three straight to go ahead 6-4, then the Tips scored the final four. A ton of guys involved offensively for Everett, and in case you were wondering this WAS the first time there’s ever been 14 goals in a Silvertips game.
The seminal moment may have come at the very end when Kyle Beach, with a probable empty-net goal in front of him, instead passed off for Matt Ius to score a certain empty-netter. In a game that got rather chippy, Beach stayed out of the box and just played, picking up four primary assists. Could it actually be that a more mature Kyle Beach is emerging?
But overall I thought it was a somewhat sloppy game. Once again the Tips struggled big time on special teams, giving up three power-play goals and what amounted to two short-handers, while Kelowna looks lost at the back without Luke Schenn and Tysen Dowzak. And let’s just say that I doubt either goaltender — Shayne Barrie for Everett, Kris Lazaruk for Kelowna — is going to recall this one fondly as both were shaky.
TURNING POINT
There were so many. But Daniel Bartek’s goal on a great two-on-one slap-pass by Beach at 11:46 of the third cut the deficit to 6-5, stopping Kelowna’s momentum and making the Tips believe they could turn the game one more time.
HIT OF THE DAY
When 6-foot-7 (Kelowna defenseman Tyler Myers) decides to dish out everything it can on 5-foot-6 (Everett center Zack Dailey), you get a clobbering like the one Myers put on Dailey late in the first period.
THREE STARS
First star: Bartek. Scored a hat trick, including the game winner with 2:38 remaining.
Second star: Beach. He now has nine points in four games since returning to the Tips.
Third star: Kellan Tochkin, Everett. A goal, two assists and becoming a lethal passer in the offensive zone.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Jamie Benn, Kelowna. Two goals and impossible to knock off the puck.
LINEUP NOTES
Everett was back at full strength with defensem Graham Potuer returning after three games out because of a concussion, though left wing Jordan Mistelbacher, healthy after missing Wednesday’s game with an ankle injury, remained in the stands. Coach John Becanic maintained faith with Shane Harper on the first line with Beach and Bartek. Harper was moved onto that line Wednesday and it had great effect in the third period of Everett’s comeback shootout victory over Vancouver. Forwards Ryan White and Markus McCrea and defensemen Drew McDermott and Paul Sohor were also healthy scratches.
Kelowna reunited playmaker Colin Long and marksman Benn on its top line. Long and Benn were split up in Kelowna’s previous two games in an effort to spread the offense, with the Rockets winning both games. Winger Kyle Verdino continues his transition to defense following Schenn joining the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Kelowna must still be holding out hope that Schenn gets sent back as he remains on the roster. The Rockets played without center Dylan Hood because of a broken nose. Defenseman Curt Gogol was a healthy scratch.
