Everett 10, Portland 4

Published 9:41 pm Sunday, October 11, 2009

TALKING POINTS

There is no way that just happened.

Everett played an awful first period, looking dazed and disorganized, and the Tips trailed Portland — a team that’s been smoking opponents — 3-0 less than 13 minutes into the game.

So what next?

Why, nine unanswered goals, of course.

Huh?

I’m not even sure how it happened. But Tyler Maxwell’s goal with 2.8 seconds remaining in the first period put a tiny crack in the dike, and then the Silvertip ocean came crashing through to completely flood Portland.

Actually, I do have an idea how it happened. Everett’s power play sprung to life. The Tips scored on each of their first three power plays, two of which resulted in the tying and go-ahead goals, and Everett just kept scoring as if on the power play the rest of the game.

A lot of players got in on the act as 12 different Tips hit the scoresheet. Also, the breaking up of the artists formerly known as the Kid Line lasted all of one period as they reunited in the second and helped spark the rally. Rasmus Rissanen scored his first two WHL goals, which was a nice recovery for him as he had a clunker of a first period.

Portland wasn’t helped by its goaltending. Kurtis Mucha, who gave up seven goals on 28 shots, had probably his worst game at Comcast Arena in five seasons.

And while I understand the Winterhawks had to be frustrated by the way the game went, I’d have to say they weren’t exactly the picture of grace in defeat. The third period was quite the circus, with Brad Ross (16 penalty minutes in the period) playing the role of the ringmaster.

Finally, a word about the boards. Now in its seventh season, Comcast Arena is starting to show some age, and the bad bounces along the boards in the home end have gotten out of control. I’ve seen more bad bounces from pucks rimmed around the boards in three home game than I’d see during the entire season in Everett’s first five years. Something needs to be done about that because eventually it’s going to cost teams games.

TURNING POINT

It looked like it was going to be a blowout in favor of Portland. But with time winding down in the first period Maxwell one-timed a shot off the rush that beat Mucha with 2.8 seconds remaining to give Everett a glimmer of hope. Who could have known how much the game would change after that?

HIT OF THE DAY

Ross got a good lick in on Ryan Murray early in the first period when he got a shoulder into Murray’s chest while Murray was off balance, sending Murray sprawling.

THREE STARS

First star: Maxwell. Two goals and an assist, and his goals were the game changers.

Second star: Chris Langkow, Everett. Also two goals and an assist, he wins a lot of battles out there.

Third star: Shane Harper, Everett. A goal and three assists, he now has 10 points in five games.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Alex Theriau, Everett. Yes, all of his assists were secondary, but a player deserves mention when he had more points in one game (four) as he had in his entire Everett career previously (three).