Kelowna 5, Everett 4 (OT)
Published 11:15 pm Friday, October 3, 2014
TALKING POINTS
I don’t think one could ask for more from a home opener, aside from a win. This was an exciting, competitive game between two undefeated teams that needed overtime to decide it. Everett’s new star player, Nikita Scherbak, justified the hype. But Kelowna’s Cole Linaker spoiled the fun for the Tips as he scored 24 seconds into overtime to leave the Rockets as the only undefeated team in the WHL.
Scherbak made his celebrated debut with Everett tonight and he showed just what the Tips can expect from the first-round NHL draft pick. He scored on an absolute laser beam shot to get the Tips on the board after they fell behind 2-0. He scored the goal that gave the Tips a 3-2 advantage. And he assisted on the goal that tied it at 4-4 and ultimately ensured Everett a point. He also had times when he clearly wasn’t sure where he was supposed to be on the ice, and there were a few moments where he was caught cherry picking.
As for Kelowna, the Rockets are very good. Their puck movement on the power play was phenomenal (and it was shocking to see defenseman Riley Stadel being used as the stretch player on the breakout), and there were times when they were at that same level while five-on-five. The question before the game was whether Everett could slow down Kelowna’s offense, which came into the game averaging seven goals a game. The Tips didn’t slow the Rockets down much, but they scored enough themselves to keep up.
TURNING POINT
In OT the fans didn’t even have a chance to settle into their seats before Linaker skated the puck into the Everett zone on the right, got around Tips defenseman Cole MacDonald, then raced around the net and wrapped the puck under Everett netminder Austin Lotz to end the game.
THREE STARS
First star: Tyson Baillie, Kelowna. Two goals, he’s scored in every Rockets game this season. Hard to believe he went unselected in the past NHL draft.
Second star: Scherbak. Two goals and an assist, one heck of a Silvertips debut.
Third star: Kevin Davis, Everett. Two assists, I honestly thought he was better than Scherbak tonight. Not as flashy, but he made every right decision.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Nick Merkley, Kelowna. One goal, this kid is the total package. Who gets picked first in next year’s NHL draft, Merkley or Seattle’s Mathew Barzal?
BOX SCORE
