Lethbridge beats Everett 2-1, halts Silvertips’ point streak

Published 10:34 pm Saturday, November 19, 2016

EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips entered Saturday’s game against Lethbridge having not lost in regulation in their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes were coming off a one-goal loss at Seattle Friday and had won just twice in their previous 13 games.

Yet it was the Hurricanes who came out with the greater intensity at the start and never trailed as they defeated the Tips 2-1 before 5,322 vociferous fans at Xfinity Arena.

“It took us at least 10 minutes to get our compete level up in the game and by that time they score the goal at the end of the first,” head coach Kevin Constantine said. “We played better as the game went along, but they competed really hard too. We played a team that competed really hard, and it took us a little too long to get going.”

The U.S. Division-leading Tips (15-3-4-0, 34 points) lost for the first time in regulation since Oct. 12 at Spokane. The Hurricanes, who are on their biennial swing through the U.S. Division, improved to 8-11-1-2.

Tyler Wong scored the game-winner at 11:35 in the third on a counter attack when the Lethbridge captain roofed a shot past Everett goaltender Carter Hart to give the Hurricanes their second lead of the contest.

“They snuck behind our ‘D’ and got a goal,” Constantine said. “Our ‘D’ let a guy behind us. It’s just a mistake by our ‘D.’”

It wasn’t completely different from Lethbridge’s first goal.

The Hurricanes took advantage of an Everett turnover in the neutral zone and a Tips defenseman fell down to give Lethbridge forward Ryan Vandervlis a path to the net. Vandervlis streaked in from the right wing off the miscue and fired a wrister past Hart from the right circle for a 1-0 lead at 19:17 in the first.

“We weren’t very sharp on our details on those goals,” said Everett overage blueliner Lucas Skrumeda. “It’s something that’s not going to ruin us going forward here. We’ll correct it and we’ll be a better team for it.”

It was Skrumeda who gave the Tips their lone goal of the game.

With Everett trailing 1-0, Dominic Zwerger skated into the slot and found Skrumeda on the left wing for the tap-in goal at 3:52 in the second.

“Our ‘D’ have a green light to go in any situation that has enough open ice to be a pretty good chance,” Constantine said. “It was good he went there. We want our ‘D’ to be involved, not over-involved, not getting caught or trapped, and our system requires a forward to cover for a ‘D’ that goes, so we encourage our ‘D’ to do that.”

It was the first goal of the season for the defenseman and the third goal of Skrumeda’s career. The 20-year-old, who pairs with Everett captain Noah Juulsen on the blueline, has appeared in just 12 of Everett’s 22 games this season as he has battled various injuries.

“I was just trying to jump up there and give us some numbers up there on the rush,” Skrumeda said. “Zwergs made a nice play to me and I put it in.

“We want our D-men to be active in the rush and we want them to be active at the right times so that way we’re not playing risky and giving up odd-man (rushes) the other way,” he continued. “I scored so I guess it was the right time.”

Hart finished with 22 saves in a losing effort. The Tips return to Xfinity Arena Wednesday when they play host to the Seattle Thunderbirds.

For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.

Hurricanes 2, Silvertips 1

Lethbridge101—2

Everett010—1

1st Period—1, Lethbridge, Vandervlis 1 19:17. Penalties—None.

2nd Period—2, Everett, Skrumeda 1 (Zwerger, Fonteyne), 3:52. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (tripping), 8:18; Nagel Let (interference), 16:48; Zwerger Evt (cross checking), 20:00.

3rd Period—3, Lethbridge, Wong 11 (Menell), 11:35. Penalties—None.

Shots on Goal—Lethbridge 11-10-3-24. Everett 8-11-12-31.

Power Play Opportunities—Lethbridge 0/2; Everett 0/1.

Goalies—Lethbridge, Skinner 8-10-0-1 (31 shots-30 saves). Everett, Hart 11-3-3-0 (24 shots-22 saves).

A—5,322