Tips top Cougars, hand Constantine 300th career win with club

Published 10:30 pm Saturday, November 26, 2016

EVERETT — Most of the Western Hockey League has struggled this season when facing the Prince George Cougars.

The Everett Silvertips have not.

A pair of rookies found the net for the Silvertips and Carter Hart earned his second consecutive shutout as the Tips knocked off the Cougars 3-0 before 4,877 fans Saturday at Xfinity Arena.

It was the third straight victory for the Silvertips (18-3-4-0, 40 points) who moved into the top spot in the Western Conference while handing head coach Kevin Constantine his 300th win with the franchise.

Constantine has a head for statistics, if they pertain to helping his team win on the ice. But as for personal milestones?

“Until I saw it in (The Herald) I didn’t even know,” Constantine said. “It wasn’t part of my thought process. I’m thankful and feel lucky, but it wasn’t a big deal.”

Like so many of Constantine’s previous victories behind the Everett bench, this one utilized strong goaltending and timely goal-scoring as the Tips beat the B.C. Division front-runners for the third time in as many games this season.

“A matchup against two first-place teams in their own divisions is always going to be a fun one to be a part of,” said Everett goalie Carter Hart, who recorded 26 saves. “(Saturday) I felt like we battled hard and had some huge blocks. We had some huge blocks early in the game and had a big (penalty) kill in the second period.”

It was the 13th career shutout for the reigning WHL Goaltender of the Week as he surpassed Michael Wall for second all-time in Silvertips history. Leland Irving holds the franchise record with 21.

“(Hart) is always good,” said rookie defenseman Montana Onyebuchi, whose first career goal less than five minutes into the game was the only the Tips would need. “He gives us a fighting chance to win every game.”

Onyebuchi then fought Prince George’s Josh Anderson early in the second, reprising a battle from Everett’s two-game series at Prince George in October.

It was a harbinger of the final two minutes of the game.

With a 2-0 lead, Patrick Bajkov esssentially finished off the game with an empty-net goal thanks to an assist from Dominic Zwerger at 18:54. Then the fireworks really started as Kody McDonald cross-checked Zwerger after the play and the two began to fight. Different fights broke out among the skaters and it took several minutes for the referees to restore order.

When it was sorted out, Prince George’s McDonald and Jesse Gabrielle were assessed game misconduct penalties and ejected.

“Teams have cultures and teams have styles,” Constantine said. “If you’re going to play Portland it’s get up and go. If you’re going to play Seattle you’re in for a battle. And I think PG has a mix of both of those things. They can get up and go with speed, but they’re very competitive too. You gotta be ready to really battle. It’s very much like Seattle in how much you have to compete to hang in there with them.”

Bryce Kindopp pushed Everett’s lead a 2-0 lead at 3:16 in the third when linemate Bradly Goethals chipped the puck out of the defensive zone and Kindopp won a race to the puck near the Prince George blue line. Kindopp drove to the front of the net, deked and fired past Cougars goalie Ty Edmonds’ left blocker for his third goal of the season.

The focal point of the scoreless second period came at 15:57 when Zwerger was kneed by Prince George’s Ryan Schoettler as Zwerger tried to move past him on the ice. Zwerger fell to the ice and stayed face-down for about a minute. The Tips’ winger then skated off with help while seeming to favor his left knee and immediately headed to the locker room.

Zwerger returned for the third period.

Sean Richards set up Onyebuchi for the game’s first goal when he dug the puck out behind the Prince George net and fired a pass out to Onyebuchi above the right circle. Edmonds got his pad on Onyebuchi’s shot, but it trickled over the line and into the net to give Everett the lead at 4:21 in the first.

“It felt amazing,” Onyebuchi said. “(Richards) gave me a good pass, I got it off quick and it stumbled in and it felt good.”

Edmonds, who ranks among the league leaders in wins, goals-against average and save percentage, finished with 18 saves.

The Silvertips return to action at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday when they play host to the Kootenay Ice.

Silvertips 3, Cougars 0

Prince George 0 0 0 — 0

Everett 1 0 2 — 3

1st Period—1, Everett, Onyebuchi 1 (Richards, King), 4:21. Penalties—Morrison Pg (tripping), 6:41; Sutter Evt (tripping), 6:51.

2nd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Anderson Pg (major-fighting), 2:15; Onyebuchi Evt (major-fighting), 2:15; Tuulola Evt (slashing), 4:02; O’Brien Pg (inter. on goaltender), 5:00; Schoettler Pg (kneeing), 15:57.

3rd Period—2, Everett, Kindopp 3 (Goethals, Centazzo), 3:16. 3, Everett, Bajkov 10 (Zwerger), 18:54 (EN). Penalties—Gabrielle Pg (roughing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 18:54; McDonald Pg (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 18:54.

Shots on Goal—Prince George 12-6-8-26. Everett 7-4-10-21.

Power Play Opportunities—Prince George 0 / 2; Everett 0 / 5.

Goalies—Prince George, Edmonds 14-3-1-0 (20 shots-18 saves). Everett, Hart 13-3-3-0 (26 shots-26 saves).

A—4,877

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