Final thoughts as Everett Silvertips go up three games on the Portland Winterhawks
Published 10:04 pm Tuesday, March 29, 2016
The Game
Raise your hand if you saw this coming. Nobody? OK good. I wasn’t alone.
I’m on record as predicting the Tips to win this series in seven games, and that’s even after I was certain Mario Petit would be the goalie. But a 3-0 lead? A chance for the second playoff sweep in team history? No way.
This one got a little interesting just when it appeared it was over. Trailing 3-0 in game three, the Winterhawks rediscovered their passion and pride, scoring three goals sandwiched around a Brycen Martin goal for Everett as the Tips’ 3-0 lead dwindled to 4-3.
But Everett held off Portland in the final period and Matt Fonteyne clinched it with a long empty-netter inside the final minute.
The Winterhawks had some disconcerting news before the game when they announced that captain Dominic Turgeon will miss the remainder of the season following shoulder surgery:
Dominic Turgeon had shoulder surgery today and will miss the remainder of the Playoffs: https://t.co/HsbMhFALja
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) March 30, 2016
Here was the scuttlebutt making the rounds on social media:
Dominic Turgeon’s shoulder injury happened several weeks ago. He was cleared to keep playing, but Red Wings wanted surgery to happen now.
— Scott Sepich (@SSepich) March 30, 2016
Pal and Portland fan Chad Balcom, who runs the Pucklandia podcast tweeted this before the game:
Everett has rallied around their MVP’s injury – your move, #Winterhawks #WHLplayoffs
— Chad Balcom (@hawkeyblog) March 30, 2016
It seemed to take yet another 3-1 deficit before the Winterhawks rallied around their fallen captain. By then it was too late as Everett closed out the 5-3 victory.
The Turning Point
Fonteyne drew a tripping penalty at 8:15, but the Tips killed it off to maintain their one-goal lead.
Three Stars
1. Portland F Rihards Bukarts: The Latvian had a goal and an assist as he continued to plague the Silvertips
2. Everett F Dawson Leedahl: The captain had a goal in the opening period.
3. Portland F Alex Schoenborn: Schoenborn had a goal.
Honorable mention: Everett D Brycen Martin (1G, plus-one), Everett F Remi Laurencelle (1G, 1A, plus-one), Everett F Carson Stadnyk (2A, plus-one), Everett F Matt Fonteyne (1G, 1A).
