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REFLECTIONS: Do you like leap frog? If not you’d best prep for it

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 8, 2017

By Jesse Geleynse Herald Writer

The Game

The Everett Silvertips were the superior squad on a night they needed to be. They came out like a team that was well-rested (they were) facing a team that got home at 5 a.m. (Spokane did).

Everett avenged last week’s 4-1 home debacle of a loss to these same Chiefs and leap-frogged the Seattle Thunderbirds once again to move back into first place in the U.S. Division and the Western Conference. It sets up Friday’s showdown in Kent the way the schedule makers hoped it would.

It was also a special moment for Tips forward Dominic Zwerger who spent the first three seasons of his WHL career with the Chiefs. Wednesday was his final visit to Spokane Arena:

Carter Hart moved two shutouts short of tying Leland Irving for the career club record though Hart wasn’t tested often. The offense came via another full team effort. Four different players scored and Sean Richards was the only player to tally more than one point as he finished with two assists.

Everett’s magic number to clinch home ice advantage for the first round is now one, but the Tips have greater aspirations than that. Their playoff future is entirely within their own control as they lead the conference while having played fewer games than everyone else.

This is also the fifth time in 14 seasons they’ve won 40-plus games, with four of those seasons coming under head coach Kevin Constantine.

The Turning Point

The first goal. The Tips are very good when they score first and that was the case Wednesday.

Three Stars

1. Everett F Sean Richards: The offseason acquisition from Regina had two assists and was plus-two

2. Everett F Devon Skoleski: He had a goal and was plus-one.

3. Everett G Carter Hart: The netminder saved 17 shots for his league-best ninth shutout of the season.

The Box Score

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