Spokane 4, Everett 1
Published 8:59 pm Sunday, January 16, 2011
TALKING POINTS
Well, this one was pretty much over before it even started. Spokane scored three times in the first 3:08, and that was all she wrote. It could have been a lot worse for Everett as the Chiefs dominated from start to finish. However, Tips goaltender Kent Simpson was fantastic in relief of Luke Siemens, limiting the damage. Siemens allowed goals on two of the first three shots he faced, but Everett coach Craig Hartsburg said the goals weren’t Siemens’ fault, calling it a “mercy pulling.”
I was very impressed by Spokane tonight. The Chiefs, who nobody fancied before the season started, have been on a roll, and now I can see why. Spokane gets to the puck first, wins the battles and makes no mistakes. It’s nothing fancy, but I can understand how the Chiefs have scored double digits four times already this season. First-year Spokane coach Don Nachbaur deserves a ton of credit for turning the Chiefs into perhaps the best unit in the Western Conference.
Finally, somebody needs to do something about the net on the east goal. On Spokane’s first goal Jared Cowen blew a shot clean through the net. Because of that play continued for 21 seconds until the next whistle, when a video review was instituted at the goal was awarded after the fact. That’s the second time that’s happened at the east goal this season. The other occurred when Portland’s Ryan Johansen put a shot through the net on Oct. 6. It’s time to replace that defective net.
TURNING POINT
That three-goal start kayoed the Tips, but the real killer was the second goal, when Tyler Johnson stripped an Everett defender and scored on a breakaway just 17 seconds after Cowen’s goal to make it 2-0.
HIT OF THE DAY
The biggest hit was actually a miss. Everett’s Landon Ferraro rattled the glass when he went full speed at Tyler Vanscourt and just missed. Referee Shane Warschaw had to go check the glass for damage at the next whistle.
THREE STARS
First star: Johnson. One goal and two assists, is he the league’s MVP?
Second star: Brenden Kichton, Spokane. Two assists, threw laser beams at goal from the point all night.
Third star: Simpson. 42 saves, big-time effort, his best in a while.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Anthony Bardaro, Spokane. No points, but he was a handful.
BOX SCORE
