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REFLECTIONS: Silvertips earn statement victory at Regina

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, February 14, 2017

By Jesse Geleynse Herald Writer

The Game

This was a statement win for the Everett Silvertips. Actually it involved several statements.

The first is that the seven-game winless streak that ended just before the team headed east is truly behind them. The Tips have played well in three straight games with one tough-luck loss followed by convincing victories over the top two teams in the East Division.

The second statement is that this team can match up with any team in the WHL on any given night. That doesn’t mean the Tips are always going to do so, but this win reaffirms that they can.

It is sometimes hard to quantify what the presence of Noah Juulsen (and Lucas Skrumeda) brings to this team, but I think we’ve seen it on this road trip. Juulsen has four points in three games while Skrumeda complements him on the back end as they collectively add eight-plus years of WHL experience. Keeping that duo healthy will be of paramount importance down the stretch.

“I think this is one of our biggest wins, with Regina being the team they are and putting up the numbers they have,” Juulsen said by phone after the contest. “I think it’s just playing our game. We didn’t really change much, we just wanted to play the full 60 minutes.”

Carter Hart was sharp in net again despite seeing his latest shutout streak snapped at 156:51 late in the second period on a tipped shot from the point. Hart had several spectacular glove saves including one during a flurry on Regina’s final power play.

Hart even got some love from Regina fans for his work for Team Canada during the World Junior Championship:

One of the goals Hart did allow came to former Tip Dawson Leedahl who backhanded his own rebound past a diving Hart. Leedahl’s goal also gave Sam Steel his 100th point of the season.

But it was too little, too late. The Tips scored the game’s first two goals and never trailed en route to their third win in four games.

“When we score the first goal our record is solid,” Juulsen said. “It’s important to have a good start and a good first period and we did tonight.”

Everett also had an impressive second period as the Tips outshot the Pats 24-17 through 40 minutes.

The Tips don’t have much time to dwell as they take on the Saskatoon Blades Wednesday. The Blades are still in the mix for a playoff spot and have won three straight and six of their last 10.

The Turning Point

Patrick Bajkov’s goal off a rebound with 11 seconds to play in the second period was a dagger. It pushed Everett’s lead to 4-1 and completely changed how Regina approached the third period.

Three Stars

1. Everett G Carter Hart: The 18-year-old netminder had 26 saves while holding the league’s top-scoring offense three goals below its average.

2. Everett D Noah Juulsen: The captain had a goal and an assist and finished plus-three.

3. Regina F Filip Ahl: Ahl scored Regina’s first goal.

Honorable mention: Everett F Brian King (one goal, one assist, plus-three), Everett D Lucas Skrumeda (one assist, plus-three).

The Box Score

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