Everett 3, Tri-City 1

Published 11:30 pm Wednesday, January 7, 2009

TALKING POINTS

Turns out you don’t need Kyle Beach to create chaos at a hockey game in Everett. Weather conditions prevented the Americans from arriving until about 7:30 p.m., so the game started an hour-and-a-half late (wreaking havoc with my deadline).

So how did the Tips look in the first game without Beach? They looked like a team determined it could win without him. They left everything out on the ice, and Thomas Heemskerk played a blinder in his first home start for the team, earning his first win as a Tip. After two games I’d have to say Heemskerk looks like a keeper. And give credit to his defense, too, which I though played a strong game in front of him.

Given it was the first game without Beach, and with a long delay before the start, I figured anything could happen tonight. This was probably the best result/performance the Tips could have asked for.

TURNING POINT

Everett led 1-0 midway through the third period when Tri-City goaltender Brett Martyniuk stopped a Shane Harper penalty shot. That could have sparked Tri-City, but Harper redeemed himself 61 seconds later when he put a bouncing rebound into the top shelf, giving the Tips that all-important two-goal cushion.

HIT OF THE DAY

Four minutes into the game Tri-City defenseman Brett Plouffe just steamrolled Everett’s Drew McDermott. It was a rough shift for McDermott as he got smoked again moments later.

THREE STARS

First star: Heemskerk. 30 saves. The Beach trade was the bigger news, but the Heemskerk deal may have more effect on the Tips this season.

Second star: Zack Dailey, Everett. Two assists and looked comfortable taking Beach’s spot on the top line.

Third star: Dale Hunt, Everett. Scored a goal from Beach’s old spot on the power play.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Graham Potuer, Everett. Led a strong Everett defensive effort and even got involved offensively a time or two.

LINEUP NOTES

Everett goaltender Kent Simpson was back in uniform after missing five games because of the U-17 World Hockey Challenge, where he backstopped Team Pacific to the silver medal. Defenseman Shayne Brown still isn’t ready to return from his hip-flexor injury. Forwards Jordan Mistelbacher and Tyler Parker were healthy scratches. Left wing Daniel Iwanski and defenseman Alex Theriau, who came to Everett in the Beach trade, were both in attendance, though neither dressed.

Tri-City remains without star goaltender Chet Pickard. Pickard isn’t expected back until the weekend after earning a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. The Americans were also missing center Kruise Reddick (concussion) and defenseman Jarrett Toll (hand) because of injury. Forwards Brock Zimak and Spencer Asuchak were healthy scratches. Forward Jason Gardiner was reassigned to Selkirk of the MJHL to get Tri-City’s roster down to 25.