Everett 3, Victoria 2
Published 10:50 pm Wednesday, March 7, 2012
TALKING POINTS
I’m not sure how, but the Tips find themselves in seventh place in the Western Conference. Victoria thoroughly outplayed Everett tonight, outshooting the Tips 37-13, and Everett looked nothing like the team that took it to high-flying Tri-City on Saturday. The Tips didn’t play with a whole lot of energy, and they had all kinds of difficulty handling the puck.
Actually, I do know how the Tips pulled it off. His name is Kent Simpson. Everett’s been looking for its veteran goaltender to steal the team points all season long. The last several weeks he’s begun to do that, and tonight may have been his greatest heist to date. Thanks to Simpson Everett has its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Want to know just how unlikely Everett’s victory was tonight? The score was tied 1-1 going into the third period, mainly because of Simpson. The Tips then managed just two shots on goal in the third period. Fortunately for the Tips, both those shots found their way to the back of the net.
Everett has now played Victoria three times this season. The Tips won all three games 3-2, and Ryan Harrison ended up with the game-winning goal in all three. Care to put any money down on it happening one more time when the Royals come back to Everett on Saturday?
Anyway, it may not have been pretty, but the Tips leapfrogged Victoria into seventh. The Tips now have 49 points, one more than the Royals, and Everett has a game in hand. Seattle lost 3-1 at Prince George tonight, meaning the Tips are now three points clear of the ninth-place T-birds, with both teams having six games remaining — including two against one another. Prince George moved back within four points of playoff position, but the Cougars are in deep as they have just five games left and have a brutal schedule the rest of the way.
TURNING POINT
Everett had just gone ahead 2-1 early in the third when, on the ensuing shift, Victoria’s Zane Jones found himself free on goal. Jones deked and tried to go five-hole, but Simpson made the save to preserve Everett’s lead.
HIT OF THE DAY
There was some willing hitting that took place tonight, but not much that really connected. I kind of got a kick out of Everett’s Jari Erricson going in hard on Austin Carroll, only to bounce off and end up flat on his back.
THREE STARS
First star: Simpson. 35 saves, he’s found his form just when the Tips need it most.
Second star: Ryan Murray, Everett. Two assists and you can never question his effort, but even he seemed to be a little jittery tonight.
Third star: Robin Soudek, Victoria. Two goals, finished off his opportunities.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Steven Hodges, Victoria. One assist, to me he was hands down the best skater on the ice. He was unfortunate not to score a couple.
BOX SCORE
