REFLECTIONS: Carter Hart pitches shutout in return from WJC
Published 1:30 am Friday, January 13, 2017
The Game
It was like Carter Hart had never left. He recorded a shutout in his return from the break he was granted following the World Junior Championship and the Tips won their second straight.
Everett has quietly put together another pretty good stretch of defense and goaltending as one fan pointed out to me:
@JesseGeleynse 143:57 since the Tips last allowed a non-shootout goal 38:57+5+60+60
— Nick Paredes (@npthree) January 14, 2017
The top line returned from a scoreless night on Wednesday to record two points each, and Devon Skoleski added the final two goals as the Tips turned a once-close contest into a rout.
Silvertips defenseman Kevin Davis saw his point streak snapped at 13 games – ironically on Friday the 13th in his hometown.
Kamloops goalie Dylan Ferguson had been solid in net with regular Blazers netminder Connor Ingram away with Hart competing for Team Canada. In fact, Ferguson was the WHL Goaltender of the Month in December. Ingram remains away on his post-WJC break so it was Ferguson again Friday and the Tips took advantage.
Also of note: all four of Everett’s goals came at even strength. That’s something the Tips were hoping to address prior to Wednesday’s game and eight of their nine goals have come via five-on-five in the last two games.
The Turning Point
Hart was sharp in the first five minutes when piled up his first five stops. That set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Three Stars
1. Everett G Carter Hart: The Tips goalie saved all 22 shots for his fifth shutout of the season and 15th of his career.
2. Everett F Patrick Bajkov: The Tips forward had a goal and an assist to finish plus-two.
3. Everett F Dominic Zwerger: The overage forward had two assists and finished plus-two.
Honorable mention: Everett F Devon Skoleski (two goals, plus-two), Connor Dewar (two assists, plus-two).
