Everett 4, Tri-City 2
Published 10:55 pm Saturday, December 18, 2010
TALKING POINTS
That’s a heck of a way to head into the Christmas break. The third period tonight was probably the best period of hockey we’ve seen at Comcast Arena this season, both in terms of how the Tips played and in terms of entertainment value. That was some compelling stuff.
Everett underwent a transformation during the second intermission. The team that came out to play the third was not one we’ve seen this season (a second-intermission visit by Craig Hartsburg may have had something to do with it). The Tips played with a fire that’s been missing this season, and it worked as Everett scored three goals in the third to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Tri-City was game, too, as the Americans matched Everett’s physical play, turning the third period into a slugfest. The spectators were treated to quite the spectacle in the third.
The victory gave Everett back-to-back victories over quality opponents in their final two games of the first half. That’s pretty big. The Tips were staring at the possibility of a five-game losing streak and last place in the Western Conference going into the break. Now the Tips will have an easier time celebrating Christmas.
Everett now has nine days off before resuming play Dec. 28 at Kelowna.
TURNING POINT
Early in the third period the Tri-City defense committed an awful turnover, gifting Kellan Tochkin the puck all alone in the slot. Tochkin’s shot was saved, but Tyler Maxwell was able to jam in the rebound to tie it at 2-2 and set the Tips away in the third.
HIT OF THE DAY
Midway through the third period Tri-City’s Paul Sohor (who was playing in Everett for the first time since being traded by the Tips to the Americans) took a huge run at Evan Morden behind the Everett net. But Morden sidestepped and plastered Sohor against the glass. It was one of the best hits of the season.
THREE STARS
First star: Tochkin. Three assists in his first game back from a concussion, including setting up Everett’s first goal just 24 seconds into the game.
Second star: Ryan Murray, Everett. Two assists, played workhorse minutes, along with Brennan Yadlowski, tonight with Chad Suer out injured.
Third star: Kent Simpson, Everett. 24 saves, none bigger than his glove save on Brendan Shinnimin with 43.9 seconds remaining and the score 3-2.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Drew Owsley, Tri-City. 31 saves, he had several out-of-this-world stops, keeping the Americans in it.
BOX SCORE
