Everett 6, Spokane 2, the streak is over
Published 11:15 pm Friday, December 16, 2011
TALKING POINTS
After the first period I was all set to write a summary about the Tips taking a record losing streak into the Christmas break, even referencing the fact that the November Gem of the Month, which is given to the Everett player who earns the most three-star points, was awarded to the back-up goaltender. Think about that one.
But wouldn’t you know it? The Tips go and score the game’s final five goals over the last two periods and end up winning comfortably, stopping the skid at 10 and heading into the Christmas break on a high. It was a nice acknowledgment of the fans by the players following the game, too.
There’s no way you could have seen this coming after the first period. The first was a complete mismatch in execution. Spokane manufactured scoring opportunities and always seemed to be shooting with traffic in front of goal, while Everett was lucky if it manufactured a simple completed pass. The shots were 21-6 in favor of Spokane, and if not for heroics from goaltender Kent Simpson the Tips would have been down a lot more than 2-1.
But the Tips apparently heard it from coach Mark Ferner between periods, and they came out a much better team. Everett was also much more opportunistic, taking advantage of its chances where Spokane didn’t. The Tips were better in the second and third, but they were still outshot in each period and 46-25 overall.
This game ended up getting pretty chippy, and I’m sure the Tips were happy to have winger Jesse Mychan back in the lineup to help out. Mychan dived right back in the fray with 15 penalty minutes. Mychan’s 10-game suspension began after Everett beat Prince George 3-2 at home on Nov. 12. He returned to contribute to Everett’s win tonight. In between the Tips lost 10 straight. Coincidence?
Lastly, in ex-Tip news, former Everett goaltender Leland Irving made his NHL debut tonight. By all reports Irving was fantastic, stopping 39 of 41 shots, but his Calgary Flames ended up losing to the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a shootout. Nevertheless, congrats to a good effort in his first NHL action.
TURNING POINT
Whatever Ferner said during the first intermission must have worked as the Tips scored 48 seconds into the second to tie it 2-2, Brennan Yadlowski finishing off a nice play while skating four-on-four. Everett desperately needed something to serve as a tourniquet from the first period, and that goal did the trick.
HIT OF THE DAY
Midway through the third period Everett’s Nick Walters leveled Dominik Uher with a crushing shoulder charge as Uher tried to skate the puck into the Everett zone. The hit, one of the best of the season, prompted Steve Kuhn to immediately challenge Walters.
THREE STARS
First star: Simpson. 44 saves, he was the only reason Everett was still in it after the first period.
Second star: Josh Winquist, Everett. Two goals, he has three goals in two games since getting the healthy-scratch treatment.
Third star: Kohl Bauml, Everett. Two assists, how is it Everett’s littlest guy is the biggest nuisance in front of net?
The Herald’s honorable mention: JT Barnett, Everett. Two assists, both on nice plays.
BOX SCORE
