Final thoughts as the Everett Silvertips defeat the Vancouver Giants
Published 10:30 pm Saturday, December 5, 2015
The Game
The Silvertips needed this one in a big way. Two straight home losses “sparked” the team and Everett responded with a weekend-salvaging victory over Vancouver.
“They’re a proud group,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine said of his team. “They have goals and they want to have a shot at accomplishing something as a group. You can’t lose a ton of games and keep those season-long goals available to yourself if you go on a long losing streak.”
Saturday was Mackenzie Dwyer’s turn to shine. He scored his first career goal (also the game-winner) and went on to produce the most entertaining postgame interview of the season for me so far. It included a little, shall we say ‘colorful’ language, but the elation and excitement radiated from his face and into his voice.
It was a special night for the seldom-used blueliner, who has now appeared in nine games this season.
“You try not to think about it,” Dwyer said of not playing consistently. “Obviously it gets in your head a little bit, but you try to be as mentally tough as you can. You come to the rink every night as best you can to play your hardest. It’s definitely hard to keep your mind into it, but working hard off the ice and keeping your body in shape is the best I can do. “(I) just (need to) be ready for my opportunity when I got in.”
Dwyer made the most of it Saturday.
The Turning Point
Brandon Ralph screened Vancouver goaltender Ryan Kubic and Dwyer fired a slap shot from the boards past Kubic for the game-winning goal at 7:44 in the second period. The goal gave Everett a 2-0 lead.
Three Stars
1. Everett D Mackenzie Dwyer: See above.
2. Everett G Carter Hart: The reigning WHL Goaltender of the Month and CHL Goaltender of the Week was his normal unflappable self, turning aside 21 shots and allowing one power play goal from fellow future NHLer Tyler Benson. It was clear early in Saturday’s game that Hart was “on,” and Constantine noted so afterward.
3. Everett F Matt Fonteyne: The southpaw had Everett’s first goal and assists its third.
