Final thoughts as the Everett Silvertips defeat the Vancouver Giants
Published 11:50 pm Saturday, November 7, 2015
The Game
I guess we’re just going to have to get used to this. The Everett Silvertips are going to play lots of close games.
Saturday’s 3-2 win over visiting Vancouver was Everett’s third straight victory (all by a single goal) and fifth straight one-goal game overall. The three goals the Tips scored Saturday are the most in a game since their 5-2 over Prince Albert Oct. 11. It makes for some pressure-packed final moments, but the Tips seem to be OK with that.
“They say pressure is a privilege because it means you’re in situations that are exciting,” head coach Kevin Constantine said. “That’s one of our sayings, ‘Pressure is a privilege,’ and we’ve been in a lot of them lately, and we probably will (again).”
Constantine has said the coaching staff analyzes far more variables than simply the number of goals the Tips score. They pay more attention to the number of shots the team takes, particularly on frame, as well as many other factors. Consequently the staff has been very pleased with the number of chances the team is creating. And lately the Tips have been scratching out just enough goals to be victorious.
On Saturday Everett (8-4-0-1, 17 points) had three different goal scorers and built a 3-1 lead. The Tips got stellar goalie play yet again from Carter Hart. He was screened on both the goals scored by Vancouver, and Constantine mentioned that he’d like to see the Tips skaters to block a few more shots.
The first two lines were back to normal Saturday with Remi Laurencelle and Matt Fonteyne returning to their regular units. However the Winkler-Fonteyne-Bajkov line started because captain Dawson Leedahl was a gametime decision after blocking a puck with his ankle Friday. Hence Riley Sutter warmed up before being scratched when Leedahl determined he could play.
The Turning Point
Leedahl drew a kneeing penalty at 16:00 in the third period with Everett leading 3-2. The Tips managed to kill the penalty with Hart recording the lion’s share of his 13 third-period stops during that span.
Three Stars
1. Everett F Patrick Bajkov: Bajkov scored what proved the game-winning goal and added two assists.
2. Everett F Matt Fonteyne: Fonteyne scored a goal and assisted on Bajkov’s goal.
3. Vancouver D Ben Thomas: The Vancouver defenseman scored both of Vancouver’s goals.
