Davis, U.S. Division-leading Silvertips fend off Americans 4-2

Published 9:45 pm Saturday, January 21, 2017

KENNEWICK — Twice in the final period the Everett Silvertips found themselves tied with the Tri-City Americans.

Twice Kevin Davis answered the call.

The veteran Everett blueliner scored twice in the third period as a short-handed Everett team knocked off the Tri-City Americans 4-2 before 4,302 fans at the Toyota Center.

The goals were the fifth and sixth of the season for Davis, who helped the U.S. Division-leading Silvertips (30-6-7-1, 68 points) snap a seven-game winning streak by the second-place Americans (29-18-3-0, 61 points).

The Tips started backup Mario Petit in net as they rested Carter Hart. Everett played without defensemen Noah Juulsen and Lucas Skrumeda, and forwards Dominic Zwerger and Devon Skoleski. As a result 15-year-old Ethan Browne, Everett’s first-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, made his WHL debut.

Davis’ second goal of the game came on a power play and broke a 2-2 tie at 15:30 in the second. Connor Dewar capped the scoring with an empty-netter in the final moment.

Davis had previously given the Tips a 2-1 lead at 11:51 in the third to put Everett back on top. Aaron Irving earned an assist on the goal for his first point in a Tips uniform since he was acquired earlier this month from Edmonton.

But the Americans tied it back up at 13:23 when Dylan Coghlan’s wrister from the outside was tipped into the net by Vladislav Lukin to make it 2-2 and set up the game-winner by Davis.

Everett never trailed as the Tips caught Tri-City on change as Brandson Hein skated in from the left side potted his second goal of the season for a 1-0 lead at 18:33.

Everett survived a double-minor penalty on Irving as the overager was assessed two minutes for hooking and two minutes for checking from behind. While the Tips killed off that Americans opportunity, Tri-City tied the game with just 12 seconds remaining in the frame when Kyle Olson roofed a shot past Mario Petit and the teams went into the second intermission knotted at 1-1.

Petit finished with 22 saves in his first appearance since splitting a 5-0 shutout over Spokane with Dorrin Luding on Jan. 11.

The Tips return to action at 4:05 p.m. Sunday when they take on Spokane at Xfinity Arena.

Silvertips 4, Americans 2

Everett 1 0 3 — 4

Tri-City 0 1 1 — 2

1st Period—1, Everett, Hein 2 (Walker), 18:33. Penalties—Rasmussen Tc (interference), 9:09; Onyebuchi Evt (major-fighting), 19:49; Yorke Tc (major-fighting), 19:49.

2nd Period—2, Tri-City, Olson 12 (Lukin, Geekie), 19:48. Penalties—Irving Evt (checking from behind, hooking), 6:43.

3rd Period—3, Everett, Davis 5 (Fonteyne, Irving), 11:51. 4, Tri-City, Lukin 19 (Coghlan, Geekie), 13:23. 5, Everett, Davis 6 (Bajkov, Centazzo), 15:30 (PP). 6, Everett, Dewar 9 (King), 19:33 (PP EN). Penalties—Välimäki Tc (delay of game), 15:15; Rasmussen Tc (10-minute misconduct), 19:10; Topping Tc (major-charging, game misconduct), 19:10.

Shots on Goal—Everett 5-7-12-24. Tri-City 8-8-8-24.

Power Play Opportunities—Everett 2 / 3; Tri-City 0 / 2.

Goalies—Everett, Petit 10-2-2-1 (24 shots-22 saves). Tri-City, Parenteau 18-9-1-0 (23 shots-20 saves).

A—4,302